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The forecast of rain to return to Sydney on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning has significantly boosted Red Cardinal’s prospects of maintaining his unbeaten record for the Kris Lees stable at Rosehill on Saturday.

The imported seven-year-old lines up in the $1.5 million Tancred Stakes (2400m), seeking to make the rise to weight-for-age company and stake a strong claim for the $2 million Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 13.

He rises to 2400m following victories at 1900m and 2000m at Rosehill since joining Lees’ team.

Stable spokesman Lucas Miller said Red Cardinal has a few factors in his favour against the hot favourite Avilius in the Tancred Stakes.

“Avilius has to back up from last Saturday’s Rosehill win, whereas Red Cardinal has the fresher legs,” Miller said.

“He is in great order and relishes the wet ground. The likelihood of more rain means the ducks are lining up for us.

“Kris is confident he can handle the change from handicaps to weight-for-age, especially if it’s wet.”

The Rosehill track had improved from Heavy to a Soft 7 but the prospect of more rain in the next 24 hours leaves a cloud over the state of the track by the time racing starts.

Kerrin McEvoy rode Red Cardinal in his G3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) victory at Rosehill a fortnight ago and again has the mount.

If Red Cardinal records his third successive win for Lees he cannot be rehandicapped for the Sydney Cup where he is kindly weighted on 53kg.

Lees has also accepted with Big Duke (Brenton Avdulla) and Doukhan (Glyn Schofield). Both are also Sydney Cup bound.

“Big Duke is racing well and has now had the benefit of three runs since resuming,” Miller said.

Doukhan is the third emergency and will run in the Chairman’s Quality (2600m) at Randwick next Saturday if he misses a start at Rosehill.

Miller will be in charge of a big team at Rosehill with Lees attending the Dubai World Cup meeting in the UAE on Saturday.

El Dorado Dreaming (Avdulla) and Frankely Awesome (Jason Collett) both tackle the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and Invincible Gem (Corey Brown) and Princess Posh (Collett) run in the G2 Emancipation Stakes (1500m)..

“El Dorado Dreaming is a class filly already proven at Group 1 level,” Miller said.

“Her placing in the Wakeful Stakes at Flemington last spring showed she could handle the 2000m, and she was terrific when runner-up against older mares in the Coolmore Classic at Rosehill a fortnight ago.

“She is coming back to her own age and sex, and her work has been good.

“Frankely Awesome will love the 2000m. She is starting to come into her own as she gets over more ground.”

“Princess Posh has kept improving in the last 12 months, whilst Invincible Gem is due for a change of luck.”