2023 Tancred Stakes preview & best bets | Saturday, March 25

The Group 1 Tancred Stakes is back at Rosehill this Saturday after being switched to Newcastle last year due to poor weather and track conditions. A field of 14 will line up in the 2400m contest, including two key horses in Gold Trip and Montefilia looking to back up from last weekend’s Group 1 Ranvet Stakes behind Dubai Honour. There are plenty of other form-lines converging here, including the Canberra Cup quinella of Arapaho and Explosive Jack, while Knights Order, Stockman, and King Frankel come through the Group 3 Sky High Stakes.

2023 TANCRED STAKES ODDS

Online bookmakers are showing the most respect to the Ranvet Stakes form as the runner-up in that race, Montefilia, has opened favourite at around $3.70. The 2022 Melbourne Cup winner, Gold Trip, holds the second line of betting at $4.80, while the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Knights Order rounds out the horses in single figures. Overseas raider Cleveland ($11) for the Joseph O’Brien yard will be sure to have his admirers at the double-figure odds on offer, as will Sir Lucan ($10) and Vow And Declare ($17).

2023 TANCRED STAKES SPEED MAP

We should be getting a genuine tempo for this year’s Tancred Stakes. Knights Order looks the obviously leader, as jockey Tim Clark will be likely to find the running rail. Sir Lucan (10) will be coming across from the wide draw, based on his two Australian starts, and the same can be said for King Frankel (8), who likes to show some early toe. Arapaho (3) and Benaud (4) should be just in behind the speed from their respective draws, while the favoured pair of Montefilia (9) and Gold Trip (13) may have no choice but to be dragged back in the field. Stockman (7) should get a lovely run throughout proceedings upon settling, and Cleveland (11) has been positive in his races overseas but will have to overcome a tricky-looking draw this Saturday.

Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2023 Tancred Stakes.

2023 TANCRED STAKES FORM & BETTING PREVIEW

Although he was beaten comprehensively in the Ranvet Stakes, we’re of the opinion Gold Trip can bounce back quickly and win this. He returned in superb order when chasing home Steinem in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) on February 25, only going down by 0.3 lengths, and he will be better for his run in the Ranvet. This son of Outstrip often backed up after a week last season and just continued to impress every time he stepped out en route to his Melbourne Cup win. He gets a likely wet track to suit his stepping up to 2400m, and at the weight-for-age conditions he looks perfectly placed to nail his second Group 1 victory. Mark Zahra will have no choice but to get back on Gold Trip, but his class should prevail late.

The two gallopers that represent terrific value for each-way punters are the Canberra Cup quinella – Arapaho and Explosive Jack. They were both strong efforts in the Listed race, and although it would be easy to discount the form, we’re going to make a case for them both at the $26 on offer with the top betting sites. Both should appreciate the likely wet track this weekend, and Arapaho brings some quality Group 1 form behind Anamoe in the Chipping Norton Stakes. Explosive Jack at his career best won the Group 1 Australian Derby as a three-year-old, and although he may not be going as well into his five-year-old campaign, the way he hit the line last time out suggests he’s not too far off finding his best again. We’re going to have a small bet on them both because if there’s an upset brewing, it could well be them.

We’ve got no knock on Montefilia. She was clearly the best run from the Ranvet Stakes, but we’d make the argument she’s more effective on top of the ground. In saying that, she’s a four-time Group 1 winner and undoubtably a fair favourite for the race. We just feel she’s been well found in the market, so although she’s a winning hope, we’re going to play around her.

2023 TANCRED STAKES SELECTIONS & BEST BETS

• 1

  GOLD TRIP

• 5

  ARAPAHO

• 6

  EXPLOSIVE JACK

• 14

  MONTEFILIA

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