Racelab’s In The Lab: Ratings reveal the key plays in Tancred Stakes & Australian Cup
Racelab’s ratings deep dive into the Tancred Stakes and Australian Cup highlights the key contenders, with Dubai Honour and Aeliana leading the way in Sydney, while Light Infantry Man profiles as the value runner in a competitive Flemington feature.
Racelab’s Matt Collum has taken a forensic look at the Group 1 races at Rosehill and Flemington using their ratings system to assist working out who’s best credentialed to take out this year's big races.
To learn more about Racelab, please click here.
[web_stories title="true" excerpt="false" author="false" date="false" archive_link="true" archive_link_label="" circle_size="150" sharp_corners="false" image_alignment="left" number_of_columns="1" number_of_stories="4" order="DESC" orderby="post_title" view="circles" /]
In The Lab | Ranvet Stakes | Group 1 WFA 2000m
| Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Weight | JTD | Best RBM L3 | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Honour (IRE) | W J Haggas | T Marquand | 59 | 110.5 | 112 | $3.60 |
| Vauban (FR) | G Waterhouse & A Bott | Tim Clark | 59 | 110.5 | 110 | $6.50 |
| Soul Of Spain (IRE) | C J Waller | Tommy Berry | 59 | 110.5 | 105 | $17.00 |
| Valiant King (GB) | C J Waller | K Mc Evoy | 59 | 110.5 | 102 | $34.00 |
| Zarir (IRE) | C J Waller | S Clipperton | 59 | 110.5 | 105 | $151.00 |
| River Of Stars (IRE) | C J Waller | J R Collett | 57 | 108.1 | 104 | $26.00 |
| Piggyback | C Maher | Zac Lloyd | 57 | 108.1 | 106 | $27.00 |
| Aeliana (NZ) | C J Waller | J B Mc Donald | 56.5 | 107.5 | 109 | $1.80 |
Small field of eight runners in the Tancred Stakes and there isn't much speed on paper. Going through the ratings, there are only three horses that have ever done the JTD - Dubai Honour (five times), Vauban (once) and Aeliana (three times). You can see why the market has identified the top three. Aeliana is on the quick back up after winning the Ranvet Stakes last week - she is clearly the one to catch. That being said, Dubai Honour is all class and has runs on the board! He won this race last year fresh and looks ready to go again. Vauban was solid first-up winning the Sky High Stakes over 2000m and must be respected here.
Selections: Dubai Honour (WIN)
In The Lab | Australian Cup | Group 1 WFA 2000m
| Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Weight | JTD | Best RBM L3 | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Kitten | A & S Freedman | Craig Williams | 59 | 110.5 | 111 | $5.00 |
| Light Infantry Man (FR) | C Maher | H Coffey | 59 | 110.5 | 109 | $18.00 |
| Apulia | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | W Pike | 59 | 110.5 | 107 | $11.00 |
| Just Fine (IRE) | G Waterhouse & A Bott | Jordan Childs | 59 | 110.5 | 103 | $61.00 |
| Birdman (IRE) | C J Waller | B Melham | 59 | 110.5 | 112 | $3.60 |
| Sabaj | M Price & M Kent Jnr | Beau Mertens | 59 | 110.5 | 109 | $12.00 |
| Mark Twain (NZ) | P Stokes | Lachlan Neindorf | 59 | 110.5 | 103 | $35.0 |
| Pride Of Jenni | C Maher | Declan Bates | 57 | 108.3 | 111 | $5.0 |
| Damask Rose (NZ) | M W Walker | Jamie Melham | 57 | 108.3 | 101 | $46.0 |
| Leica Lucy (NZ) | C J Waller | Damian Lane | 57 | 108.3 | 106 | $5.5 |
| Basilinna (NZ) | E & D Browne | Jye McNeil | 57 | 108.3 | 103 | $201.0 |
| Philia | David Vandyke | D W Stackhouse | 57 | 108.3 | 102 | $51.0 |
Field of twelve runners in the G1 Australian Cup over 2000m at Flemington. Speed will be fast with Pride Of Jenni taking up the running from Philia and Just Fine. Birdman and Light Infantry Man get lovely runs in behind the speed. Looking at the ratings and the market has identified the top three although Pride Of Jenni's rating of 111 was in the Empire Rose Stakes over 1600m. Her last three runs over this distance she has been beaten a total of over 42 lengths rating 98, 91 and 98! I couldn't possibly be with her here. Birdman was strong through the line winning the G2 Peter Young Stakes, he had a few favours that day and this is his toughest test to date. Tom Kitten has two wins on the bounce and the distance won't be a problem. He generally runs his best races first- and second-up so I wouldn't be surprised to seem him regress slightly here third-up from a wide draw. Leica Lucy has been screaming out for the distance, picks up frosty and will love the sting out. She's primed for a big run. Light Infantry Man took out this race last year by 2L off a similar setup rating 112. I'm inclined to forgive his run last start considering he was in the worst ground at Caulfield - his SP was close to Birdman there too. He's got the ratings to win and I'm happy to be on him at odds!
Selections: Light Infantry Man (EW)
