The big question heading into the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) is whether top mare Aeliana will back up from Saturday.

The Chris Waller trained mare found a race without her superstar stablemate Autumn Glow in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and delivered as favourite, running a career peak in a field of five.

While small fields can often be tactical, the pace was strong from halfway on Saturday and Aeliana proved the strongest, showing some of the stamina that saw her romp in by 5 lengths against the boys in the ATC Derby as a three-year-old.

Despite not getting back out to a mile-and-a-half in the Spring, Saturday's Tancred being one of just two 2400m Group 1 races in Australia, the other being the Caulfield Cup under handicap conditions, it would appear the perfect race for Aeliana to again avoid Autumn Glow who seems to have her measure.

If she runs, she'll no doubt be the horse to beat, but the competition will fancy themselves as plenty will have been set to peak on the day with limited options in the distance range.

The other big talking point is William Haggas' evergreen globetrotter Dubai Honour, who returns to Australia for the third year in a row, having won 3/4 of his races here, only touched off by champion mare Via Sistina in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (2000m) having won the Tancred Stakes last year.

He comes down in his typically consistent form, a Listed winner at Southwell two starts ago, second at Kempton Park last time, posting ratings perfectly in line with what he's brought out previously.

That says his best is on the table on Saturday and that arguably gives him the edge over Aeliana.

He beat Vauban comfortably in this race last year who follows an identical path having won the Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) first up. Whether he can improve enough to beat Dubai Honour and Aeliana remains to be seen but it promises to be a fantastic edition of the Tancred Stakes if they all take their place.

Photo: Bradley Photo