STARS COLLIDE IN KIA TANCRED STAKES
Perennial winners feature in KIA Tancred Stakes and Vinery Stud Stakes
March 22, 2023
A field packed with major race winners in the Group 1 $1.5 million Kia Tancred Stakes and a clash of Australia and New Zealand’s best middle-distance fillies in the Group 1 $600,000 Vinery Stud Stakes feature at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday.
Following last Saturday’s hugely successful Longines Golden Slipper Day the $41 million record-breaking Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival continues with a bumper 160 entries across a ten-race card.
Saturday also offers six other Group races including the Group 2 $250,000 Canadian Club Emancipation Stakes, Group 2 $250,000 Elite Sand & Soil Tulloch Stakes and Group 3 $200,000 Racing and Sports Doncaster Prelude ahead of The Championships.
Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing and Wagering James Ross said Saturday’s 61st renewal of the Kia Tancred Stakes was full of class.
“Two Melbourne Cup winners, two Sydney Cup winners and a host feature race winners make the 61st Kia Tancred Stakes another world class renewal,’’ Mr Ross said.
“To see such class come up against a four-time Group 1 winner and favourite in Montefilia on her home track with a rising star in young jockey Dylan Gibbons adds extra interest to this great Autumn race.
“Some 35 years after internationals first came to Sydney for the H.E Tancred Stakes it is pleasing to see world-renowned trainer Joseph O’Brien enter Cleveland with a champion jockey in Kerrin McEvoy aboard.
“The international runners have already tasted multiple Group 1 success at the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and we continue to see runners each week from the northern hemisphere compete against the best of Australia and New Zealand.
“Highly-rated Kiwi fillies such as Prowess and Polygon in the Vinery Stud Stakes, Statement for Joseph O’Brien in the Canadian Club Emancipation Stakes and Full Of Sincerity for Andrew Forsman in the Elite Sand and Soil Tulloch Stakes are among several more of the internationals to open their campaigns in Sydney this Autumn.’’
Full fields for all ten races are here and full TAB Fixed Odds Markets for all races here.
The capacity 14-horse field in the Group 1 $1.5 million Kia Tancred Stakes – Australia’s only Group 1 weight for age race over 2400m – features six multiple and individual Group 1 winners with combined prizemoney of almost $28 million.
Montefilia for trainer David Payne and jockey Dylan Gibbons is a $3.60-$3.80 early TAB favourite ahead of reigning Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip ($4.20-$4.40) trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and ridden by Mark Zahra.
Last year’s Schweppes Sydney Cup winner Knight’s Order for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott is $6-$6.50 TAB with Tim Clark aboard followed by Cleveland (Joseph O’Brien and Kerrin McEvoy) at $9 TAB.
The 2020 Melbourne Cup winner Vow and Declare is at $17 TAB for trainer Danny O’Brien and jockey Nash Rawiller.
Amongst horses in recent years to have won a Melbourne Cup and KIA Tancred Stakes in their careers are Might and Power, Ethereal, Makybe Diva, Almandin and Verry Elleegant.
Kiwi visitor Prowess trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood with Mark Zahra aboard is a $2.80-$2.70 TAB favourite in the Group 1 $600,000 Vinery Stud Stakes.
Pavitra for trainers Richard and Will Freedman and jockey Chad Schofield is a $3-$3.40 TAB second favourite ahead of 2022 Longines Golden Slipper winner Fireburn for trainers Gary Portelli and leading apprentice Tyler Schiller.
The young jockey is looking to win a second career Group 1 race in a week.
The Group 2 $250,000 Elite Sand and Soil Tulloch Stakes is a key pathway race to next week’s Group 1 $2 million Australian Derby at Royal Randwick.
Another Kiwi visitor in Full Of Sincerity (Andrew Forsman and Nash Rawiller) opens a $3.60 TAB favourite ahead of the John O’Shea trained and Tom Marquand ridden Stroke Of Luck ($4.60-4.80 TAB).
Two horses at $5 TAB are next in betting – the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Major Beel (Tim Clark) and Awesome John (O’Shea and McEvoy).
Four of the past six winners of the Tulloch Stakes have gone on to win the Australian Derby the next week.
For all racing, ticketing and general information go to theraces.com.au.