Peak condition signals for Dubai Honour in Tancred Stakes repeat bid
Whenever Dubai Honour acts cheekily at training, it often signals a brilliant race performance, with Isabella Paul noting encouraging developments prior to the UK import's Tancred Stakes mission.
The current year is the eight-year-old's third Sydney autumn series, and Paul, travelling alongside William Haggas' Dubai Honour for every trip, confirms the runner is performing as well as before.
Recent results back this up, featuring a Group 1 podium finish trailing Goliath in Germany during September, a Listed triumph in the UK two months on, plus a second in Britain last December under 64kg.
"I'm really happy with where he is. He is being a bit of a pain on the track, and that generally means he is in pretty good order," Paul said.
"He's in great form. He actually came down here a little bit heavy, and he has tightened up nicely in the last week or so.
"They did a good bit of work last week, and they will have a little stretch tomorrow (Wednesday)."
Dubai Honour and fellow stablemate Caviar Heights galloped at Canterbury Tuesday morning, concluding their official quarantine.
Dubai Honour seeks successive triumphs in Saturday's Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) after overcoming Duke De Sessa and Vauban 12 months prior, whereas Caviar Heights enters Australian racing via the Group 3 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m).
Paul stated that jockey Tom Marquand, aboard for three of Dubai Honour's four local starts, touches down Thursday in Sydney but skips rides on the Haggas pair pre-race.
"Probably not, to be honest," Paul said.
"He came and had a sit on Caviar Heights when we were in quarantine in the UK. They galloped together, and he rode Caviar and was very happy with him that day.
"Obviously, he knows Dubai Honour inside out, so we will leave Tom to recover from his flight, and we'll see him on Saturday."
In Sydney, Dubai Honour's record shines across four runs, beaten only by Via Sistina in the previous Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
Barring issues, he eyes another Championships highlight after Rosehill, and Caviar Heights likely heads to Queen Elizabeth too, despite a Sydney Cup (3200m) nomination via Sydney Cup.
Trainer Chris Waller has nominated Aeliana for Tancred Stakes, deciding Tuesday if she returns post her Ranvet Stakes (2000m) win at Rosehill last weekend.
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