Racing
Geopolitical issues cause delays for Dubai Honour and other Sydney carnival hopefuls
The arrival of four northern hemisphere raiders including multiple Group 1 winner Dubai Honour for the Sydney autumn carnival has been delayed due to the escalating Middle East crisis.
Dubai Honour and Caviar Heights, both trained by William Haggas, and new Chris Waller stable recruits, Barnavana and Seo Linn were due in Sydney on Tuesday but flight cancellations mean they have been left stranded in England.
Airlines are now trying to work out alternative travel routes to avoid the Middle East.
Australian Turf Club's Nevesh Ramdhani said he is hopeful a revised travel schedule can be arranged to get the four horses to Sydney later this week.
Caviar Heights is due to clash with Aeliana and Sir Delius in the Group 1 $1 million Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21.
There is a quarantine period the four horses need to spend when they eventually arrive in Sydney so for Caviar Heights to contest the Ranvet, he will need to be here by the end of his week.
Dubai Honour won the 2023 Ranvet Stakes-Queen Elizabeth Stakes double and then returned last year to win the Tancred.
The English maestro had planned for Dubai Honour and possibly Caviar Heights to contest the Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.
In early TAB Fixed Odds betting on the Ranvet Stakes, Caviar Heights is on the third line of betting at $8 behind Aeliana ($1.90 favourite) and Sir Delius ($3.50).
Dubai Honour is early favourite at $2.80 to win the Tancred Stakes.
