The Sydney Turf Club has announced that BMW will be the sponsor of the $1 million H E Tancred Stakes to be run over 2400 metres at Rosehill on AAAMI Golden Slipper Day (Saturday 23 March 2002). The race was without a sponsor after Mercedes dropped out last year. BMW had previously sponsored the race between 1990 and 1995 and the race will once again be known as the BMW.

Coolmore Australia have advised that Royal Academy will return to Australia on the shuttle this year. His fee for the 2002 season will be announced at Easter. Royal Academy has been having a great "black type" run recently with Bel Esprit (Gr3 Blue Diamond Preview), Regal Kiss (Gr3 RN Irwin Stakes), Tears Royal (Listed Barton Stakes) and Lady Belveddere (Listed Australia Day Stakes) flying the flag. Another interesting statistic is that from 20 December 2001 to 2 February 2002, from 22 race days, Royal Academy has sired 29 winners (ranging in distance from 1000 to 2100 metres), including 4 stakeswinners in 7 different countries.