Last Saturday’s Ranvet Stakes winner Avilius is a chance to back up this week in the 2019 Group 1 $1.5m KIA Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill.
Avilius, above, is a chance to back up in the Tancred Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Avilius is among the nineteen nominations for the weight for age Tancred Stakes and trainer James Cummings will make a decision to run or not in the next couple of days after he monitors the European imports condition after winning the Group 1 $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill last Saturday.
“History is against him backing as a winner of the Ranvet into the Tancred,” Cummings told RSN927.
“Since they did change the programming of those two races it has proven to be extremely difficult for a horse to win on the seven-day back-up.
“He has had four runs this campaign. The next few days will be crucial for the horse and if he is giving us any sign that it is going to be too much, we will be patient like we have been patient with other horses in the past.”
Avilius was one of two Cummings trained horses to carry the Godolphin royal blue colours to a Group 1 victory on Saturday with the Sidestep filly Kiamichi leading home a blue army trifecta in the $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) with the winner’s stablemate Microphone running second with the Anthony Freedom trained Lyre running into third place.
Avilius repaid his followers with his win in the Ranvet Stakes after going down as favourite at his previous start when fifth to Harlem in the Group 1 $1.5m Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 9.
Imported European stayer Red Cardinal is also among the Tancred Stakes nominations and is racing in great form with two wins from his last start two starts for new trainer Kris Lees.
Red Carnival scored first up for the Lees stable with a win in the Listed $140,000 Parramatta Cup (1900m) at Rosehill on February 23 followed by a win in the Group 3 $350,000 Schweppes Sky High Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 16.
Avilius has been installed as the early $2.70 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Tancred Stakes ahead of Red Cardinal at $3.70 and Big Duke at $6.50.
Early betting for the 2019 Tancred Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.70 Avilius, $3.70 Red Cardinal, $6.50 Big Duke, $7.50 Shraaoh, $12 Yogi, $13 Rondinella, $17 Brimham Rocks, Goathland, The Taj Mahal, $18 Nettoyer, Patrick Erin, $21 Ace High, Muntahaa, $26 Vengeur Masque, $31 Etymology, Ventura Storm, $51 Sound, $61 Auvray, $67 Doukhan.
