Racing
Haggas hopeful Dubai Honour can still get to Tancred Stakes
The maestro William Haggas is clinging to the hope stable star Dubai Honour and talented Caviar Heights can leave England on Sunday and will still be able to compete in the Sydney autumn carnival despite the escalating Middle East conflict.
International air travel has been thrown into chaos with flight cancellations around the conflict zone.Dubai Honour and Caviar Heights along Chris Waller's new stable recruits Barnavara and Seo Linn were due to arrive in Sydney today but have been left stranded in England.
"We hope to get away on Sunday,'' Haggas told Racing And Sports.
"But if we don't get away until the 12th at the latest, we won't come at all.''
Haggas has already been forced to revise his autumn campaign for Caviar Heights who was going to run in the Group 1 $1 million Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21.
But with the uncertainty over a revised flight schedule and quarantine requirements if the horses do get to Sydney, it means Caviar Heights will not be able to start in the Ranvet.
Caviar Heights had been on the fourth line of betting at $11 in early Ranvet Stakes markets behind Aeliana at $1.90.
Haggas said Caviar Heights will probably go to the Group 2 $300,000 Neville Sellwood Stakes (200m) at Rosehill on March 28, the same day Dubai Honour will defend his title in the Group 1 $1.5 million Tancred Stakes (2400m).
"If we get away on Sunday, hopefully Dubai Honour will go for the Tancred and Caviar Heights for the Neville Sellwood,'' Haggas confirmed.
Dubai Honour and Caviar Heights are also likely to go to the Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.
Yulong-owned Barnavara is an extremely talented mare with five wins from 13 starts including the Group 1 Prix de L'Opera at Longchamp at her last start back in October.
Seo Linn is a lightly-raced Irish stayer who has mixed flat and jumps racing, winning four of his 11 starts. He has been entered for the Group 1 $2 million Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.
