3 minute read
The Rosehill Timeform recap featuring a race by race recap of key performers from Tancred Stakes Day on March 31.
With the Golden Slipper held the prior weekend and the Doncaster Mile held seven days after, Tancred Stakes Day is something of a forgotten meeting compared to the feature racedays a week either side.
The meeting played host to a number of key performances with The Championships in mind.
Almandin claimed the feature event, the Group 1 Tancred Stakes. He will go into the Sydney Cup as the proven stayer of the field however will meet his rivals out of the Tancred Stakes (namely Auvray) on noticeably worse weight terms.
Hiyaam dominated the Vinery Stud Stakes yet somehow is only equal third favourite for the Australian Oaks next fortnight.
Neville Sellwood Stakes winner Arbeitsam and Doncaster Prelude placegetter Mister Sea Wolf raised their hands at the last minute to be considered as lightweight Doncaster Mile hopes this Saturday.
Race 1: Irukandji - Group 3 Schweppervescence (1400m)
Irukandji is by Dundeel so a bit of extra ground was always going to play into his hands.
The @HawkesRacing-trained Irukandji puts on a bold showing out in front, leading throughout for a good win in the opener on @rosehillgardens Stakes Day. pic.twitter.com/5YPlsLJF6s
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 31, 2018
He’s run to a Timeform rating of 110. That’s right on the prior five year race average.
The Sires’ Produce is next for the colt this Saturday.
There were a few good Sires’ Produce trials outside of Irukandji as well.
Aristocratic Miss was strong late as was Onthetake outside.
Spin in third was also good and meets each of them on better weight terms if they head to the Sires which is conducted under Set Weights.
Race 2: Arbeitsam - Group 3 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m)
In typical Waterhouse fashion Arbeitsam went straight to the front and was too tough late.
Arbeitsam puts up a standout performance at the staying trip, proving too good for them in the Neville Sellwood Stakes for @GaiWaterhouse1 & Adrian Bott. pic.twitter.com/oEEtIo3vyn
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 31, 2018
He’s run to a Timeform rating of 114 which is a new career peak for him.
It a case of perfect timing with Arbeitsam producing the figure seven days before the Doncaster which is his next assignment.
They say it takes a 2000m horse to win a Doncaster which is a high pressure mile so Arbeitsam can give them all something to chase with 50kg.
Maurus was great in second. The JRA Plate at Randwick in three week’s time looks an ideal race for him. Third placegetter Almost Court can go there as well and from there maybe on to a Wagga Cup.
Race 3: Spright - Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m)
Spright settled back and produced a strong final 300m to power over the top of her rivals late.
Spright goes last to first off the back of a mighty kick at the 200m, screaming home over the top for a big win at odds in the Star Kingdom Stakes at @rosehillgardens. pic.twitter.com/aWhG5H64PV
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 31, 2018
We’ve got the mare running to a Timeform rating of 104.
That’s a low winning figure for a Star Kingdom Stakes. In the last two years, weight for age sprinters like Malaguerra and Jungle Edge have won it.
Spright isn’t quite at that level but there are still plenty of options for her. Something like the Hall Mark Stakes over 1200m at Randwick on April 21 is a likely next start for the daughter of Hinchinbrook.
Runner up Dothraki should go there as well along with the fourth placed Nieta.
Race 4: Prompt Response - Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m)
Prompt Response is having a great prep as evidenced by the fact she has claimed a pair of Group 2 successes.
Prompt Response runs a tough race to narrowly beat home Oregon's Day and give @GaiWaterhouse1 & Adrian Bott a double in the Emancipation Stakes at @rosehillgardens. pic.twitter.com/CyNAFWj4kX
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 31, 2018
The thing that won her this race was how slow they went out in front. She settled outside of the leader and they got away with murder.
The daughter of Beneteau produced a Timeform rating of 114. It’s a new career peak for her, but only just having twice run to 113. She’s held her form extremely well this prep.
The Coolmore Legacy is next for her as it will be for most in this field.
Daysee Doom can bounce back there. She was disappointing on Saturday. The consensus is she’s not a leader. The Coolmore Classic winner can be bouncing back sharply next start with a more suitable run in transit.
Race 5: Levendi - Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m)
There were a few different form lines brought into this and the Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley proved to be the pick of them.
It all came down to the final strides as Levendi arrives in the nick of time to deny Astoria & Weather With You on the line in the Tulloch Stakes at @rosehillgardens. pic.twitter.com/EQC1krALjm
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 31, 2018
Levendi was backed and ridden like the best horse in the race. Sure enough he got things done.
The colt has run to a Timeform rating of 112 and he’s off to the Derby now.
Generally, the Tulloch Stakes isn’t the strongest form line brought into the Derby, it’s the Rosehill Guineas.
While Levendi ran to 112, the first nine across the line in the Rosehill Guineas the Saturday prior won by D’Argento ran 113 or better. The Rosehill Guineas is again clearly the dominant form line this year.
That said though, Jon Snow won the Tulloch Stakes - Australian Derby double last year so it can be done.
Race 6: Almandin - Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m)
Almandin was timed to the minute for this. Third up and out to 2400m always looked a recipe for success and sure enough the 2016 Melbourne Cup winner delivered.
.@KPMcEvoy rides a superb tactical race on Almandin, giving a perfectly timed kick to soar clear of them and take out the Group 1 Tancred Stakes for Liam Howley!! pic.twitter.com/1nZ3QM8100
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 31, 2018
We’ve got him running to a Timeform rating of 124. That’s right on the average winning figure of the race.
It’s his first win at Weight-For-Age in Australia and he’s right on track for the Sydney Cup and is currently a $3.50 favourite.
The weight Almandin will give his rivals in the Sydney Cup is significant. Lloyd Williams would have known that was the case when his prep began.
Macedon Lodge’s plan heading into this autumn was to perhaps have Almandin peaking for The Tancred and have Aloft as their Sydney Cup horse who will carry just 51kg. Aloft was last seen winning the Roy Higgins Quality first up a month ago.
Of the others in the Tancred, Auvray dropping to 52kg looks a big Sydney Cup hope.
Gailo Chop failed to run out a strong 12 furlongs. He’ll drop back to ten furlongs in the Queen Elizabeth.
The Ranvet Stakes is considered a key lead up into the Tancred Stakes however for the past three years, only a week separates the two races instead of a fortnight.
Early signs indicate backing up from the Ranvet to the Tancred Stakes is now poison with not one of the Top 3 across the line during the past three Ranvet’s even placing in the Tancred a week later.
Race 7: Hiyaam - Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m)
Hiyaam went to the front, got a soft lead and was too good in the straight. She outstayed them and ran to a Timeform rating of 116.
They couldn't catch her!
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 31, 2018
Hiyaam puts a gap in them at the turn with a daring front-running display, holding on from Unforgotten in the sprint to win the Vinery Stud Stakes at @rosehillgardens. pic.twitter.com/M2V9lLk2IO
It’s the highest winning figure of the Vinery Stud Stakes since Mosheen won way back in 2012.
The Australian Oaks is next for her. She looks set to become the first filly since Heavenly Glow to claim the Vinery Stud Stakes - Australian Oaks double.
Unforgotten is favourite who she beat by almost two lengths.
Hiyaam is the one based on breeding who’ll be better suited up to 12 furlongs. She’s by High Chaparral out of a Zabeel mare, Unforgotten is by Fastnet Rock.
The market has them the wrong way around and we can perhaps capitalise on that.
Race 8: Cellarman - Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m)
Cellarman is a horse who is thriving on racing, as simple as that. He kicked off his prep back in September at the midweeks.
A gap in the field allows Cellarman to continus his run of form this prep with a statement win in the Doncaster Prelude at @rosehillgardens for @cwallerracing. pic.twitter.com/87PwmbrlMB
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 31, 2018
For Saturday’s Doncaster Prelude success we’ve given him a Timeform rating of 111.
The son of Mossman has exceeded everyone’s expectations. That’s highlighted by the fact he wasn’t nominated for the Doncaster even though he was in the Prelude.
Of the others, third placegetter Mister Sea Wolf should back up The Doncaster. He might be ready to go third up with only 50kg on his back. Applying a set of Blinkers on him could spark the necessary improvement the UK import needs to be a genuine factor.
Race 9: Osborne Bulls - Benchmark 93 Handicap (1400m)
Osborne Bulls was a good thing beaten at Kembla Grange two weeks ago. He deserved a bit more luck on Saturday and he got it.
The win netted a Timeform rating of 112, a figure which beyond a shadow of a doubt indicates the son of Street Cry is up to claiming a Group event sooner rather than later.
Osborne Bulls peels to the outside and lets rip a big sweeping run down the outside, pulling clear in the final 50m to score convincingly for @JamesCummings88 & @godolphin. pic.twitter.com/Q9YBs40BMD
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 31, 2018
