Australia: Two rescheduled Group 1 stakes go Monday at Newcastle

Two days later than expected, two Group 1 races – the $1.12 million Tancred Stakes and $375,450 Vinery Stakes – will be run Monday in Australia at Newcastle Racecourse.

The races were scheduled for Saturday at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney, but excessive rain forced the cancellation of the program after the third of 10 races.

The fields for the Group 1 races have remained largely intact, although the distance of the Vinery Stakes has been reduced from 1 1/4 miles to 1 1/8 miles because of course configurations.

Spanish Mission, the 6-year-old Kentucky-bred who was third in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse in his Australian debut last November, remains in the Tancred Stakes against top rivals Duais and Think It Over.

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Duais, Think It Over, and Spanish Mission were the first three finishers in the Group 1 Australian Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Flemington on March 12.

This longer distance may suit Spanish Mission, who is trained by Peter Moody. Spanish Mission set the pace in the Australian Cup, but is arguably better suited as a stalker.

As of Saturday, Spanish Mission was the 9-2 second choice behind Duais at 2-1. Think It Over was 6-1.

Spanish Mission has thrived at longer distances. He won the Jockey Club Derby at 1 ½ miles at Belmont Park in September 2019 when trained by David Simcock of England. Spanish Mission later won three stakes at longer distances when trained in England by Andrew Balding.

Duais, a 4-year-old filly, won her second Group 1, and first against males, in the Australian Cup. Trained by Edward Cummings, Duais tends to run from off the pace.

Think It Over beat 2021-22 Australian Horse of the Year Verry Elleegant when they were first and seventh in the Grade 2 Apollo Stakes at seven furlongs at Royal Randwick on Feb. 12, Think It Over’s most recent win. Think It Over was the 2-1 favorite in the Australian Cup and was beaten two lengths.

Newcastle has a seven-race program, beginning at 11:15 p.m. Eastern or 8:15 p.m. Pacific on Sunday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The undefeated Gypsy Goddess will start at the highest level for the first time in the $375,450 Vinery Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/4 miles on turf.

Gypsy Goddess has won five races since her debut in mid-October, including the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes at 1 5/16 miles at Eagle Farm Racecourse in December.

Gypsy Goddess must beat Hinged, who won the Group 1 Surround Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs at Randwick on Feb. 26, but was third against older fillies and mares in the Group 1 Coolmore Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs on March 12, beaten slightly less than two lengths.