The Tancred Stakes: What you need to know

THE TANCRED STAKES

2400m, $1.5 million, weight-for-age, run at Rosehill

The winner receives automatic entry into the Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and Group One Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 8

HISTORY:

* First run in 1963, won by Maidenhead

* It was a Quality Handicap from 1963-76

* In 1964 was run over 10 furlongs (2000m)

* Until 1990 was the H E Tancred Stakes, until 1995 The BMW, until 2002 the Mercedes Classic, reverting to The BMW again before becoming the Kia Tancred Stakes in 2018

* Some greats of the Australasian turf have won the race: Hyperno (1978), Kingston Town (1980), Bonecrusher (1986), Beau Zam (1988), Octagonal (1996, 1997), Might And Power (1998), Tie The Knot (1999, 2000), Makybe Diva (2005) and Preferment (2016)

* The 2018 edition was won by Melbourne Cup winner Almandin, trained by Liam Howley and ridden by Kerrin McEvoy

TALKING POINTS

* A capacity field of 14, plus two emergencies, has been declared

* Godolphin galloper Avilius will wear the number one saddlecloth and comes off a win in the Ranvet Stakes last Saturday

* Nine horses have won the Ranvet Stakes-Tancred double in the same year: Alibhai (1985), Myocard (1987), Beau Zam (1988), Stony Bay (1995), Tie The Knot (2000), Eremein (2006), Tuesday Joy (2008), Manighar (2012) and Silent Achiever (2014)

* Fourteen horses have gone into the race as the favourite and come out victorious

* Barrier four is the most successful gate, producing seven winners

* Barrier three is the most unlucky, producing only one winner

WHAT THE KEY PLAYERS ARE SAYING:

* “It’s arguably not the strongest Tancred you’ll see and it’s a race I think he can be competitive in” – trainer David Eustace on Yogi

* “With an unbeaten Sydney record at stake and with the best weight-for-age credentials of any runner, he appears to be perfectly placed for the quick back-up” – trainer James Cummings on Ranvet Cup winner Avilius

* “My biggest concern, and it’s certainly a big concern, is the weather and track conditions” – Rondinella’s co-trainer Roger James

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