A stretch out in distance to 2,400 metres was all that the 2016 Melbourne Cup hero Almandin (GER) needed to make a return to the winner's circle in Saturday's $1,500,000 Group 1 H E Tancred Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.
It was first Group 1 win for new trainer Liam Howley who was promptly slapped with a $1000 fine after pleading guilty to failing to inform stewards of a change of tactics.
With Kerrin McEvoy back in the saddle for the first time since that historic win on the first Tuesday in November, Almandin (GER) raced handy before wrestling the lead off Gailo Chop (FR) at the 300 metres mark before safely holding the challenge of the Japanese-bred Ambitious (JPN) (Deep Impact) with the ageless Who Shot Thebarman (Yamanin Vital) edging out Gailo Chop (FR) for third. (photos Steve Hart).
"It's pleasing to get back on him so I've obviously got to thank Liam and Lloyd and Nick Williams for the opportunity," McEvoy said.
"They had him in top shape today and it's good to see him bounce back at the top level.
"He was full of beans and travelled really well in the run. We were a bit more forward than I thought we might be but he travelled well and was really strong at the end of the 2400 metres today."
Sparingly raced for an 8yo gelding Almandin (GER) advances his record to 7 wins, 6 seconds and 1 third from 20 starts with earnings of $5,303,858.
Part-owner Nick Williams said it was all systems go for the $2 million Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m).
"The only reason we are here today is because of Laurie Macri who rings me day in and day out to bring a horse," Williams said
"We were hoping we might have Rekindling here but he had a setback so we gave him a quiet autumn.
"It's always been the plan to go from the Australian Cup to this race then on to the Sydney Cup unless Kerrin got off and said we should be running him against Winx (in The Queen Elizabeth), which I'm sure we won't be doing."
A son of the great German stallion Monsun, Almandin (GER) won the 2014 Group II Grosser Preis der Badischen at the expense of another son of Monsun, Protectionist, who would win the Melbourne Cup later that year.
A brother to the Group II winner Atempo, out of the stakes-placed Tiger Hill mare Ametrin, Almandin is a three-quarter brother to Group 1 German Oaks heroine Amarette (Monsun).
