2021 Tancred Stakes Race Details

Race 7 at Rosehill on Saturday 3rd April 2021.

The Tancred Stakes is a 2400 metre weight-for-age race run by the Australian Turf Club at Rosehill Gardens. It is normally held in late March and is the only Group 1 weight-for-age race over 2400 metres in Australia.

You can read more about the race history, lead-up races and past winners on the Tancred Stakes page.

Tancred Stakes 2021 Preview

Track: Soft   Weather: Overcast

There are 14 runners for the $1,500,000 Tancred Stakes with four entires, six geldings and four mares. Maher & Eustace, Chris Waller and Mike Moroney have two runners each. Three of the runners had their last start in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes last week and five had their last start in the Group 3 Sky High Stakes three weeks ago, The early favourite is 2020 Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet who showed a return to form when 4th in the Ranvet Stakes last week. Second favourite is New Zealand mare Melody Belle who comes off a last-start win in the Group 1 Bonecrusher in NZ. Third favourite is Angel of Truth who ran 3rd in the Ranvet.

Toffee Tongue won the Sky High Stakes last start and Spirit Ridge came 2nd after being nailed on the line. Mirage Dancer came 3rd in the same race and The Chosen One was 6th. Nickajack Cave is an import having his first Australian start and won his last start in Ireland over 2414m. Shraaoh resumed for 5th in the Sky High Stakes and has won up to 3200m.   All other runners are currently 25 to 1 or longer.

2021 Tancred Stakes Runner by Runner

1. Sir Dragonet

One of two runners for Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, this five-year-old stallion won the 2019 Group 1 Cox Plate last campaign. He showed a return to form third-up last week when he finished 2.3 lengths 4th in the Ranvet Stakes behind Verry Elleegant and Addeybb. He’s clearly looking for this distance now and is one of the main chances.

2. Mirage Dancer

This seven-year-old Frankel horse won the Group 1 Metropolitan over this distance in October. Second -up this campaign he finished 0.1, 0.8 lengths 3rd in the Sky High Stakes where he chased hard when a split came at the 120m. Four of his five wins have been at this distance so he has to be rated a chance. One for the trifectas.

3. The Chosen One

Last year this Savabeel horse ran 4th in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup after running 3rd in the Group 3 Caulfield Cup. He resumed for 2nd in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke over 2000m in February, then finished 1.8 lengths 6th in the Sky High Stakes where he had the best last 400m race sectional. He has had 12 Group 1 starts for four places but has not been able to win at this level.

4. Southern France

This six-year-old Galileo gelding has only had three races since winning the 2400m Group 2 Zipping Classic in 2019. He resumed after 48 weeks for 3.8 lengths 7th in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes on 27 February, and normally improves second-up. Not the worst.

5. Sound

One of two runners for Mike Moroney (the other is Shraaoh), he is also one of two eight-year-olds in the race. At the end of his Spring campaign he won the 2020 Zipping Classic. His latest two runs have been in New Zealand where he ran 0.3 length 2nd in the Group 2 Avondale Cup over 2400m on 20 February, then ran 3rd in the Group 1 Auckland Cup over 3200m on 13 March. He will have no problems with the distance and could run a place.

6. Spirit Ridge

There are two runners in this race who have never raced at Group 1 or Group 2 level before and this six-year-old gelding is one of them (the other is Nickajack Cave). He won the G3 Summer Cup over 2000m in late December, then the Listed January Cup over 2000m. He spelled for 9 weeks and led in the Sky High Stakes to be nailed right on the line. This will be his first Australian start over 2000m and he has won over 2400m in the UK. He will be fitter second-up and I am including him as one of the chances.

7. Chapada

He looked good when chasing hard for 0.1, 1 length 3rd in the G1 Australian Cup over 2000m after being hampered inside the 350m, but then was disappointing when 5.25 lengths 5th in the Listed Mornington Cup last start.

8. Nickajack Cave

With only 10 race starts (for 4 wins and 3 places) this five-year-old gelding is the least experienced runner in the field. This will be his first Australian start and his last two runs were a 1.5 length win over 2816m in a Listed race in Ireland in June, then a 0.5 length win over 2414m in the Group 3 Ballyroan in Ireland in August. Firs t-up after 34 weeks he has had no official trials so it is hard to line him up against the others.

9. Angel Of Truth

The 2019 Australian Derby winner over this distance, he also placed in the 2020 Metropolitan at the distance. He came 3rd in the Ranvet last week after 5th in the Australian Cup and is not the worst.

10. Shraaoh

Last time this eight-year-old Sea The Stars gelding won was the 2019 G1 Sydney Cup over 3200m. He usually runs an honest race and last start chased hard for 1.4 lengths 5th in the Sky High Stakes where he had the best last 800m race sectional. The extra 400m is an advantage and it wouldn’t be a shock if he ran a place.

11. Melody Belle

This six-year-old Commands mare from New Zealand has more Group 1 wins than the rest of the field put together. She has 14 Group 1’s and has won four Group 1’s in New Zealand at her last six starts. Her latest was a 1.3 length win in the G1 Bonecrusher over 2000m on 13 March. The 2400m is a bit of a query but I expect her to be in the finish.

12. She’s Ideel

Another runner having her first Group 1 start, this five-year Dundeel mare has placed at all three starts this campaign – 3rd in the G3 Millie Fox Stakes, 2nd in the G3 Aspiration Quality and 3rd in the G3 Epona Stakes. She was unlucky last start and looked like she should have won. Expect her to go well here.

13. Toffee Tongue

This four-year-old Tavistock mare has only won two of her 17 starts but they were the Group 1 2020 Schweppes Oaks over 2000m and the 2021 Sky High Stakes as her lead-up to this race. She has only raced over 2400m once before where she finished 2nd in the G1 Australian Oaks on a heavy track. Despite her low win percentage she has run some excellent races and nearly beat Verry Elleegant in a close finish in the Turnbull Stakes in the Spring. I loved her run in the Sky High and think she can figure in the finish.

14. Miami Bound

Until last start when she ran 8th in the Ranvet Stakes, the four-year-old mare had done all her racing in Victoria. Her five wins include the G1 Kennedy Oaks (2500m), and the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) as a three-year-old, and the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) as a four-year-old. An outside chance.

Tancred Stakes 2021 Tips

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips
1 Sir Dragonet
13 Toffee Tongue
6 Spirit Ridge
11 Melody Belle

Previews for other races this week

Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes 2021 (Rosehill 2000m)

Group 2 Tulloch Stakes 2021 (Rosehill 2000m)

Group 2 Emancipation Stakes 2021 (Rosehill 1500m)

Group 3 Easter Cup 2021 (Caulfield 2000m)

2021 Tancred Stakes Results

The track was rated as Good 4.

Scratchings were – nil

Result Horse Margin
1st 1. Sir Dragonet
2nd 12. She’s Ideel 2.3 lengths
3rd 14. Miami Bound 2.7 lengths
4th 13. Toffee Tongue 2.9 lengths