By Ray Thomas

The showdown between Aeliana and Dubai Honour was an epic clash between two outstanding weight-for-age horses at the peak of their form.

Aeliana found a way to run down Dubai Honour and win the Group 1 $1.5 million Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday – and both horses emerged from the contest with their reputations enhanced.

Hall of Fame Chris Waller was moved to compare Aeliana to his former champ Verry Elleegant while "Father Time" hasn't caught English raider Dubai Honour yet.

This was weight-for-age racing at it's very best - two outstanding racehorses in a stirring struggle and two of the world's leading jockeys riding tactical masterpieces.

English jockey Tom Marquand tried did something different by leading on Dubai Honour, which forced James Mcdonald to settle Aeliana in second position and not let his main rival out of his sight.

What followed next was unforgettable. Marquand tried to steal the Tancred and set Dubai Honour alight on the turn, slipping three lengths clear.

But McDonald and Aeliana refused to accept defeat and set out after the leader. It took the length of the Rosehill straight but Aeliana was able to reel in Dubai Honour only a stride or two from the finish.

"I was worried from the 300m to the 100m but Aeliana was very brave,'' Waller said.

"It's hard to beat a (William) Haggas horse when they're being set for a race as Mr. Haggas does.

"He shows us what training's all about when he comes down here. We knew we had to be on top of our game."

The Tancred Stakes has produced some wonderful contests over the years including Octagonal running down Arkady in 1997, the Freemason-Northerly slugfest in 2003, Makybe Diva sweeping by Grand Armee in 2005, Hartnell holding off Japan's To The World in 2016 – but nothing better than Aeliana and Dubai Honour.

Only a short head separated them on the line as Aeliana got up to beat Dubai Honour with nearly five lengths to Vauban.

McDonald rode his 10th Group 1 winner of the season on Aeliana – but he had to earn it.

"I had to be pretty patient on Aeliana because I learned a bit on her the other day,'' McDonald said.

"I thought even though it wasn't ideal letting them get so far in front but I had confidence that the mare would pick him up.

"Once she balances up, then she finds. Last time Nash (Rawiller on Lindermann) rode a terrific race and had me a little bit disorganised and I didn't want that to happen today.''

McDonald said he would have preferred to ride Aeliana with cover but he had to adapt to Marquand's unexpected tactics.

"It wasn't my plan to give him so much of a head start, but I just waited and waited for her to be ready and when she was ready she just exploded,'' McDonald said.

"At the 300m, I could feel her really building underneath me. I just felt if I went earlier and chased her I would've been just out of my comfort zone. It was a chance I was willing to take and I'm glad it paid off.

"Lucky we were on a superior horse but credit to the runner-up (Dubai Honour), he gave us one hell of a fright."

Marquand said his pre-race plan was to "trying something different" on Dubai Honour.

"We kind of knew what would happen if we just sat and did what we normally do,'' Marquand said.

"We tried it and it nearly worked but the filly (Aeliana) was very good. She ran him down and probably had no right to really."

Issy Paul, the travelling assistant trainer for Haggas, said the plan wasn't necessarily to lead on Dubai Honour but to be in front of Aeliana.

"We basically left it to Tom and he rode a fantastic race,'' Paul said.

"It's disappointing to lose but Dubai Honour has run such a great race, I'm very proud of him.''

Aeliana, which means "shining light" in Greek, was purchased by leading syndicator Denise Martin of Star Thoroughbreds for $180,000 at the Karaka Yearling Sale two years ago.

Aeliana has now won six of her 18 starts, three at Group 1 level, for prizemoney of more than $4.3 million - with the promise of more to come.

"Denise puts a lot of time and effort and a lot of money into the game,'' McDonald said.

"She brings a whole new bunch of people, as does all the syndicates. Star Thoroughbreds just do a wonderful job.

"We've been lucky to have a great partnership, I respect Denise (Martin) greatly and really appreciate riding for her. She's got a wonderful mare on her hands and she's going to have so much fun with her. "

Aeliana completed the Ranvet Stakes-Tancred Stakes Group 1 double in successive Saturdays but whether she goes to the Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 11 has not been determined.

"She's had two solid runs, we'll see how the Queen Elizabeth fits in,'' said Waller after preparing his 13th Group 1 winner for the season.

"She'll be here for another two years so that's a lot of races to still look forward to. Who knows, she might be the next Verry Elleegant.''

Paul confirmed rising nine-year-old Dubai Honour will go to the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) – a race the ageless gelding won three years ago.

"By English standards, it is a quick turnaround but that is the plan for Dubai Honour,'' Paul said.

Image: Bradley Photos