This Saturday’s Tatt’s Tiara is a great way to round out the Group 1 racing for the 2013/2014 season, with a quality field of sixteen fillies and mares taking part. Chris Waller’s Red Tracer won her first Group 1 in this race last year when jumping from gate sixteen. Whilst the draw hasn’t been kind to her again either this time around, the set weight conditions of the race bring her right into contention and she’s joint-favourite in early markets at $4.80. Waller’s other runner in the race Catkins ($5.50), will be hoping to replicate Red Tracer feat and make this race her maiden Group 1 victory. She’s drawn perfectly in gate 1 and with Bowman in the saddle, should be left with no excuses. Sharing favouritism with Red Tracer is Gai Waterhouse’s Cosmic Endeavour. Waterhouse, who has enjoyed plenty of success in recent months with the fairer sex members of her stables, also has the consistent and recent Group 1 winner Driefontein ($11) entered who like Cosmic Endeavour, has drawn perfectly. The other runner entered in the race under double figures is Steps In Time ($6.00) who’ll be looking to claim her second Group 1 race after taking out the Coolmore Classic earlier this year.
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1. RED TRACER – N Rawiller (14) 57kgs
Last year’s winner, the champion mare was set a task when competing in last fortnight’s G1 Stradbroke Handicap first up from a nine week break. She drew wide and got back in a race where those on pace dominated and her effort to finish tenth (4.4 lengths) was good. She’s drawn wide again here but much better suited back to her own sex and has an impeccable record in set weight races such as this.
2. DRIEFONTEIN – D Browne (3) 57kgs
Enjoyed the firmer tracks in Adelaide and took out the G3 Irwin Stakes and G1 Robert Sangster Stakes before failing on the slow conditions in the G1 Goodwood. Gai Waterhouse’s mare then came to Brisbane and ran very well in the G1 Doomben 10,000 under WFA conditions, running seventh (2.9 lengths) behind in-form Boom brothers, Spirit and Temple. Last start saw her lead and fight on well for second behind in-form Stable-mate Cosmic Endeavour in the G2 Dane Ripper Stakes. Yet to win in five starts at 1400m but will get the right run from gate 3 and is in the right kind of form to break that duck here.
3. STEPS IN TIME – J Cassidy (2) 57kgs
Joe Pride’s 6yo mare was out-bobbed by Catkins in the G2 Breeders (1200m) first up last campaign before leading throughout to win the G1 Coolmore Stakes (1500m) a month later. Drawn perfectly for a mare who likes to roll along out in front and whilst she hasn’t raced since failing on the heavy track in the TJ Smith Stakes back in mid-April, she certainly appears ready for this race judging by her recent 6 length barrier trial win last week. She’ll give them something to catch.
4. CATKINS – J Bowman (1)
Started 7/4 favourite in the G1 Queen Of The Turf (1600m) at her most recent start and had her chance in the run from the inside gate, which she has again drawn here, before disappointingly running sixth. Her form prior to that was obviously very strong and included a victory over Steps In Time and a dominate victory in the G3 Wiggle Stakes (1400m). With Steps In Time and Driefontein drawing her immediate outside, she’ll be positioned in the box seat trailing the speed here and have her chance to secure her first Group 1 victory.
5. AVOID LIGHTNING – T Clark (11) 57kgs
Les Bridge’s mare has been in scintillating form this campaign, winning three of her four starts and the last two in succession. She rounded up her seven rivals in good style to claim an Open class race (1100m) by 1 ¾ lengths, defeating Recoinage and Hurrara, before making light work of the 59.5kgs on a heavy track in the Listed June Stakes, winning pulling up by 2 ¾ lengths. In no better form to have her first crack at a race like this but does meet some smart and proven mares.
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6. PLANTINUM ROCKER – P Knuckey (16) 57kgs
Western Australian galloper has drawn well and had her chance in each of her three runs in Queensland this prep. She claimed third (2.4 lengths) behind Srikandi in the G3 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m) two starts back before finishing fifth (3.8 lengths) to Cosmic Endeavour in the G2 Dane Ripper (1400m). Drawn the widest gate here and will find this no easier than her last couple
7. ANGEL OF MERCY – T Bell (9) 57kgs
Contested the WFA G2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) and G1 Doomben Cup (2000m), finishing eighth on each occasion, before appreciating the drop back in distance and class, along with the firmer footing, when successful in the G3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1600m) at her most recent run four weeks ago. She was given a gem of a ride by in-form Bell last start and defeated Wistful by a narrow margin. Needs a dry track to put her best foot forward and whilst she’s at her best over mile, the speed of the race and the Eagle Farm track should see her hitting the line hard.
8. SHE’S CLEAN – G Boss (12) 57kgs
Redoute’s Choice mare, who in four runs back this prep, just hasn’t been able to match her efforts from last year which saw her at Group 2 and 3 level. After two plain runs in Sydney at the beginning of the Autumn carnival, she was given a break of a couple of months break before resuming in the Listed Juanmo Stakes (1200m) at Doomben two starts ago. She chased valiantly from midfield to finish fourth (4.1 lengths) behind the smart Skrikandi before disappointing as the 9/4 favourite in the Listed Bright Shadow (1200m) when fifth (2 ¾ lengths). Needs to lift to on recent efforts.
9. SCORPIO QUEEN – L Cassidy (4) 57kgs
A Choisir mare that ran some very cheeky races during the Sydney Carnival, including a fourth (80/1) in the G3 Wiggle Stakes behind Catkins and then claiming sixth (2.9 lengths and 60/1) in the G1 Coolmore Classic (1500m). Returned off a nine week break to contest the G1 Stradbroke Handicap and her ninth (4.3 lengths) was commendable. Will be fitter again but does jump 4.5kgs from last start under the conditions of this race and as she has in the past, likely to find at least a couple a shade too strong.
10. LONHSPRESSO – B Melham (7) 57kgs
Victorian mare from the leading stables of Darren Weir, she won the finished strongly down the centre of the Flemington straight to claim the Listed Straight Six (1200m) from Le Bonsir two starts back. She has since backed that up with a second (1.8 lengths) to Don’t Get Excited in the Golden Topaz at Swan Hill as the 5/2 favourite. Not the traditional preparation for a race like this and would’ve liked to have seen her win last start in good style before including her in the selections here.
11. GIG – D Missen (6) 57kgs
Chased home the smart Sistine Demon in the G3 Victorian Handicap back in April and two starts later, claimed third in the G3 R A Lee Steere Stakes in Adelaide. Whilst the daughter of Commands is going well, she’s finding it hard to break through and in races easier than this one. Her most recent start saw her finish with the tail-enders in the G2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) and has too much improvement to make on that run to be winning this event.
12. PERON – M Cahill (8) 57kgs
John Thompson’s mare has been mixing with some of the best sprinters going around at the moment in four runs since returning from a six month spell. She was ok second up in the G1 BTC Cup (fifth, 2.9 lengths) behind Famous Seamus before finishing second to last in the G1 Doomben 10,000 won by Spirit Of Boom. The drop back in grade to her own sex in the G2 Dane Ripper, saw her installed the 15/4 favourite and from gate 1, she settled in the box seat. From there, she only held her position in the run to the line and finished fourth (2 ¾ lengths) behind Cosmic Endeavour and Driefontein. Might’ve be ridden a touch too close last start but had to take up the spot from the inside, here with gate 8, she’ll be able to settle midfield and produce her best, which is good enough to see her in the mix.
13. MYAMIRA – R Thompson (10) 57kgs
Back-maker who caught the eye first up in the G3 Dark Jewel at Scone two starts back, running third (1 length) behind Seaside. The 5yo Beautiful Crown mare than travelled north to line up in the G2 Dane Ripper where she finished fairly in the run home to claim sixth spot (4.2 lengths) behind Cosmic Endeavour. Competitive mare around the Listed/Group 3 level and whilst she deserves a shot at the top grade, might find some of her competitor here hard to run down.
14. COSMIC ENDEAVOUR – T Berry (5) 55.5kgs
The 3yo Northern Meteor had always shown good ability but has really started to deliver this campaign. She’s won three of her last four, two at G2 level, including a strong 1 ¾ length win last start in the G2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m). From a good draw, as she has come up with here as well, she trailed the speed in fifth spot before peeling out and proving too strong in the run home. Expect her to repeat that performance here and be heavily involved in the finish.
15. COSTA VIVA – V Colgan (13) 55.5kgs
New Zealand mare who has produced two very good efforts from as many starts in Queensland. The daughter of Encosta De Lago made up a stack of ground to run fourth (1.6 lengths) in the Gold Coast Guineas on a heavy track and then again, after drawing poorly, was hitting the line strongly with limited room in the G2 Queensland Guineas when fifth when ninth (2 lengths) behind Sir Moments. Form from the Qld Guineas has been franked and although drawn wide again and taking on the best fillies/mares Australia can muster, can’t rule her out as a place chance.
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16. JAZZ SONG – J Byrne (15) 55.5kgs
After close up finishes in both the G3 Glenlogan Park Stakes and G2 Qld Guineas, the Mick Price trained filly deservedly won the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic last week at Ipswich. Starting the 7/4 favourite, Jim Byrne had her in the perfect spot as the straightened for home and as they crossed the line, she had a long neck to spare of Griante. Unfortunately here though, she has drawn poorly and from there, she’ll have to improve significantly on the quick back-up.
17. GRIANTE – SCRATCHED
RACE OVERVIEW
The leading chances in the market, Cosmic Endeavour, Steps In Time and Catkins, have drawn plumb barriers and will get their chance. Not much between any of them but since joining the Joe Pride Stables, Steps In Time has re-found her best form and Cassidy has ridden her in five of her nine victories. Red Tracer has the class to overcome the wide draw and the set weights will make her very hard to beat. Any rainfall later in the week will see her price shorten again. Looking for a boilover or value, Avoid Lightning is flying at present and creates plenty of interest at $15.00 whilst Driefontein is a good chance of holding on for a place given the run she’ll get in transit.
- STEPS IN TIME
- COSMIC ENDEAVOUR
- RED TRACER
- AVOID LIGHTNING
In the news:
Chris Waller’s template for Group One excellence points to a sense of timing with She’s Clean, the least favoured of his three runners in the $400,000 Tattersall’s Tiara at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
But the master Sydney trainer figures Red Tracer deserves her favouritism as he strives to equal his best Group One haul for a season in the weight-for-age race for fillies and mares.
Waller is chasing his ninth Group One win for 2013-2014 after the stable benchmark was set last year with Red Tracer’s Tiara victory.
Experience, backed by numbers, has taught Waller to become a meticulous and advanced planner in his drive to deliver results at the elite level of racing.
In She’s Clean, Waller makes a strong case that she fits the profile of a Tiara winner much better than her $26 quote would suggest.
“She dead-heated for fifth last year and we walked away from that race saying `she wasn’t quite good enough to win but gee she will be the horse to beat next year’,” Waller said.
“She’s got to improve a bit more than what I expected but she has been set for the race for that reason.”
Waller will be Australia’s leading Group One trainer for the second consecutive season.
It’s an achievement built on modest expectations for a trainer who is re-writing the record books since he trained his first Group One winner in 2008.
“Win one and work from there,” Waller says of his Group One goals before each racing season.
“If you can get one off your back at the start of the season, in my mind things tend to flow.
“But one of the things I have learnt is you need representation.”
Red Tracer is already on Waller’s 2013-2014 Group One honour roll after winning the Myer Classic.
And in Waller’s mind, Red Tracer lost nothing with her Stradbroke Handicap effort to finish midfield and he gives her an undeniable chance in what could be her racing swan song.
“Her run in the Stradbroke was fine,” Waller said.
“I thought she had no luck whatsoever and could have fought out the finish. Therefore she is going into the race like a last-start winner to my eyes.”
Catkins completes Waller’s Tiara trio and she is on the third line of betting despite missing a vital lead-up run.
