Some of the greats of the turf have their name on the Group 1 Tancred Stakes honour board and even though Saturday's field at Rosehill Gardens was far from vintage, Avilius (GB) treated his opponents with contempt to keep his record in Sydney at a perfect five for five.
Avilius wins the Tancred Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart.
The 5yo son of Pivotal has been one of the finds of the season adding a second Group 1 to his win in the Ranvet Stakes seven days previously.
Halfway through the running on Saturday it looked like it could go pear-shaped when James McDonald found himself short of room but once he found some clear air, Avilius (GB) gathered in the leaders with the greatest of ease and received little more than a hand ride over the last 200 metres to win by two and a quarter lengths eased up over Big Duke (IRE) with Rondinella a half-neck back in third.
The winner of a Listed race at Maisons-Laffitte back in 2017, the Godolphin colour-bearer has won four Group III's, a Group II and two Group 1's with earnings of over $2.7 million since he had his first run in Australia in August last year.
Trainer James Cummings indicated that may be it for this autumn and is unlikely to take on Winx in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
"More than likely we knew he'd be in the paddock after this. He still holds a nomination in the Queen Elizabeth but in my opinion I'll put him in a paddock now, the preparation he's had has been magnificent," Cummings said.
"As careful as a trainer has to be about being arrogant coming into a big race meeting, his effort today was imperious. He's a serious horse and fully fit his last two starts he's proven his weight-for-age capabilities. He's had a $1.5million canter around Rosehill.
"Regardless of the great week he's had I looked at the horse this morning and I just felt like he was stronger, he was better than last week and it was going to take horrible bias or some sort of tragedy to happen to pull him up.
"He just swept to the lead beautifully in this weight for age race like a proper weight for age horse. What he was able to do there was demonstrate the natural speed and strength that he's got."
McDonald was having his first ride on the gelding.
"I shouldn't get paid for that one," McDonald joked.
"I know what all the fuss is about with him now. What a super horse, push-button. He's a credit to the team, they've kept backing him up and they can see he's backing up really well
"He's a super horse, got a great turn of foot, loves the ground and he's a pleasure to ride."
A brother to Group II Prix Guillaume d'Ornano winner Saint Baudolino, Avilius is out of the winning Sunday Silence mare Alessandria whose dam Tereshkova (Mr Prospector) is a sister to Group 1 Middle Park Stakes winner and one season shuttler Lycius (USA).
.@godolphin's Avilius has absolutely blitzed them in the G1 Tancred Stakes @rosehillgardens today. pic.twitter.com/t0ni2VChqJ
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 30, 2019
