The Rosehill Timeform recap featuring a race by race overview of key performers and ones to watch out of the Tancred Stakes Day program on March 30.
Avilius was dominant as he became the first horse to claim the Ranvet Stakes - Tancred Stakes double since they were moved within a week of each other in 2015.
Despite the arrogant win, trainer James Cummings will resist the temptation to run his star import against Winx in the Queen Elizabeth next fortnight.
The UK import was the only resistance to Chris Waller dominating the quaddie legs courtesy of Verry Elleegant (Vinery Stud Stakes), Mister Sea Wolf (Doncaster Prelude) and the promising Star Of The Seas (1400m Benchmark 88 Handicap).
Race 1: Bellevue Hill - Group 3 Schweppervescence (1400m)
This was a typical Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott-trained runner performance. Bellevue Hill went straight to the front and was too strong in the straight. The Pierro colt has run to a Timeform rating of 116, a figure well above the sort of rating we usually see in this race.
It is perfect timing to be hitting this sort of level with the Sires Produce being on next week. Gai Waterhouse knows how to win one as well with successes courtesy of Hasna, Fashions Afield, Sebring, Manhattan Rain and Pierro.
Fortress Command in third was doing enough late to think he can play a role wherever connections elect to head next start.
The Sebring colt was held up badly for a run but got going from the 200m once clear.
Race 2: Taikomochi - Group 3 Neville Sellwood (2000m)
Another race where the Waterhouse Bone and Muscle came to the fore. Taikomochi led, controlled the race and held some better performed horses at bay.
He’s produced a Timeform rating of 111 for the effort. It’s a bit below the five year winning average of the Neville Sellwood Stakes. Regardless, Saturday’s win was easily his best career run to date and the five-year-old has improved with each run this prep.
The son of Snitzel should be peaking fourth run from a spell. The JRA Plate (2000m) in three weeks shapes as a nice option for him.
Goathland was luckless in third. The Sydney Cup is expected to be his next start.
The former Lloyd Williams-raced stayer is currently $26 and will carry just 50kg. He’s bred to love the trip.
Libran in second also produced a good Sydney Cup trial. Goathland will however get a 2kg weight swing off him in the Sydney Cup.
Race 3: Angel Of Truth - Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m)
Angel Of Truth was the third example in as many races to open the card where the leader kicked and kept going. The Animal Kingdom gelding put two lengths on runner up Madison County and ran to a Timeform rating of 112.
Connections have since paid the late entry fee and have accepted for the Australian Derby on Saturday.
The last two winners of this race in Jon Snow and Levendi have come out and won the Derby a week later.
Carif in fourth produced a nice display. The son of So You Think was last on the turn and kept finding the line.
Watch for him contesting the Frank Packer Plate (2000m) in three weeks time and after that perhaps a trip north for the Queensland Derby.
Race 4: Invincible Gem - Group 2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m)
After how the first three races unfolded, things went a bit crazy with horses looking for the front.
Invincible Gem landed outside the early leader and was too strong late. We’ve given the run a Timeform rating of 113. It’s not far off her best which came when winning the 2017 Missile Stakes where she beat Le Romain.
Not an acceptor for the Doncaster Mile this Saturday, the Legacy Stakes against her own sex the week after shapes as her next target.
Daysee Doom will probably be off to the Legacy Stakes as well while Noire in third should too have that same goal. The daughter of Foxwedge was making good late ground at a point in the day where not much was.
Race 5: Siren’s Fury - Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m)
This race marked a bit of a turning point in the meeting. They went nuts out in front and it set the race up for Siren’s Fury.
The Jason Coyle-trained mare was a mile back on the turn and was too strong for the tiring leaders late.
Siren’s Fury is a dual Group 3 winner now. She can try and maximise her broodmare value further contesting the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) next fortnight.
We probably need to be careful with this race moving forward as a form reference. It was a strangely run race.
The last 600m of this event was more than a second slower than the final 600m Angel Of Truth clocked over 2000m when winning the Tulloch Stakes.
Race 6: Verry Elleegant - Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m)
Verry Elleegant thrived with the ear muffs on and some solid early pace. She was dominant in the straight.
What a win from Verry Elleegant in the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes @rosehillgardens today - Next stop 'The Oaks' @cwallerracing. pic.twitter.com/slWsaIIOqP
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) 30 March 2019
We’ve put a rating of 120 on the win. It’s the highest winning figure of the Vinery Stud Stakes since Mosheen won in 2012.
By Zed out of a mare who won over ten furlongs, you’d think with that pedigree she will lap up the 2400m of an Australian Oaks.
The same can be said for the runner up Frankely Awesome. She was tremendous and in something of a surprise will back up in the Derby this Saturday opposed to waiting for the Australian Oaks.
She’s by Frankel out of a Street Cry mare who also won over ten furlongs.
Overall, it was good to see some staying pedigrees prominent in this race.
Race 7: Avilius - Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m)
This was clinical. Avilius put more than two lengths on his nearest rival whilst being eased down on the line.
.@godolphin's Avilius has absolutely blitzed them in the G1 Tancred Stakes @rosehillgardens today. pic.twitter.com/t0ni2VChqJ
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) 30 March 2019
We’ve given the display a Timeform rating of 121. It’s actually down on what he ran to the week prior where he was just as dominant winning the Ranvet Stakes against stronger opposition.
James Cummings has stated Avilius will now head to the spelling paddock opposed to contesting the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Winx has had that effect on the Queen Elizabeth. However, it attitudes amongst the Godolphin camp changed, Winx and Avilius shape as a pretty safe Exacta for punters.
The three chasing Avilius home in Big Duke, Rondinella and Sound, they’re likely going to be major players in the Sydney Cup next fortnight.
Who Shot Thebarman ran third in this race last year. The veteran kiwi stayer then went on to claim the Sydney Cup.
Race 8: Mister Sea Wolf - Group 3 Doncaster Prelude (1500m)
Mister Sea Wolf led in a Chris Waller-trained trifecta and provided the stable with their second win in the race from as many years.
The son of Amadeus Wolf ran third in this race 12 months ago. The UK import has found a new level since then.
The gelding ran to 117 on Saturday. His best prior run came when winning the Rowley Mile early in the season.
It sounds like he’s being prepped for a Brisbane Winter Carnival, races like the Hollindale and the Doomben Cup. Winning like he did on Saturday, first up over 1500m on a testing track, that would suggest those race are spot on for him.
My Kingdom Of Fife won the Doncaster Prelude/Hollindale double in 2011.
Abdon was good in second and My Nordic Hero in fifth was working through his gears late.
The Doncaster Prelude has basically been used by Waller as a Brisbane Winter Carnival tune up.
The Doncaster Prelude despite its name has minimal relevance in terms of being a main Doncaster form line. Thesedays we’re usually looking for the winner to come out of races like the George Ryder Stakes and the Ajax Stakes.
Race 9: Star Of The Seas - Benchmark 88 3YO+ Handicap (1400m)
Star Of The Seas has done a superb job this prep. The Ocean Park gelding has worked through his grades well against some solid opposition.
There is a Benchmark 100 Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on April 20 which profiles as a suitable option for the four-year-old.
Stablemate Zourkhan resumed nicely in second.
The son of Shamardal has a solid second up record and thrives on rain affected ground.
