Two Group 1 stakes on tap at Rosehill Gardens in Australia

Verry Elleegant and Avilius, second and third in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes on March 21, are back in action again this weekend as the leading candidates for Saturday’s Group 1 Tancred Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at Rosehill Gardens, near Sydney, Australia.

The $894,000 Tancred Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf is run at a distance that should suit Verry Elleegant, a 5-year-old mare trained by Chris Waller. Verry Elleegant won the Group 1 ATC Oaks at 1 1/2 miles at Royal Randwick last April, the only time she has raced at the distance in her 18-race career.

In the Ranvet Stakes, Verry Elleegant was beaten a half-length by Addeybb, with Avilius another 5 1/4 lengths behind in third. Avilius won the 2019 Tancred Stakes, but has lost his last six starts since a win in the Group 1 George Main Stakes at a mile at Randwick in September.

As of Wednesday, Verry Elleegant was 5-4 in future-book betting for the Tancred Stakes, with Avilius at 3-1.

There are two Group 1 races on Saturday’s Rosehill Gardens program. In the race after the Tancred, Funstar is likely to be an odds-on favorite to win the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/4 miles.

Funstar, trained by Waller, is part of a field of 13 in the $298,000 Vinery Stud Stakes.

Funstar has won 5 of 7 starts, including the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on March 14, finishing 1 1/4 lengths in front of Probabeel, her leading rival in the Vinery Stud Stakes.

Post time for the Tancred Stakes is 12:50 a.m., Eastern, on Saturday, or 9:50 p.m., Pacific. Wagering will be available through DRFBets.com.