The Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival comes to a close this Saturday, but not before a stacked nine-race card on Tattersall’s Tiara Day gets underway at Eagle Farm.
The $600,000 feature looks to be a beauty with a wide-open field of fillies and mares stepping out in the final Group 1 of the season, while there are also four other black-type races on the program.
We’ve analysed each contest and our best bets for 2021 Tattersall’s Tiara Day can be found in our preview below!
Preview brought to you by Ladbrokes. Learn more about Ladbrokes HERE.
Race 1 – 11:43AM – Listed Tattersall’s Life Member Stakes, (1830m)
A black type win is up for grabs in the first of the day, but this isn’t a race I’m overly keen to dive into from a betting perspective.
Tutukaka was unlucky not to earn a state in the J.J. Atkins, but Tony Pike’s lightly raced two-year-old has shown more than enough to suggest he can finally break through and win his maiden here.
The son of Tavistock has placed in all three of his starts to date, which includes a very impressive run from the rear of the field to run third last time out in The Phoenix.
That performance suggested he’s looking for further and I really can’t find a reason why he won’t win.
Race 2 – 12:18PM – Ernie Ward Memorial QTIS 3YO Fillies Handicap, (1200m)
This looks a nice race for Redoute’s Image, who bounced back from a disappointing first-up run to win well on the Sunshine Coast a fortnight ago.
Craig Williams was on her that day and he certainly proved the difference maker, so it’s worth sticking with the pair as they venture to Eagle Farm looking to go one better.
The Kris Lees-trained three-year-old should be doing her best work late from the soft draw and her chances will only increase with some sting out of the track.
Race 3 – 12:53pm – Winning Edge Presentations QTIS 3YO C&G Handicap, (1200m)
Very hard to get away from Mass Destruction here as he looks to cap off a consistent prep with a well-deserved win.
The Spirit Of Boom three-year-old has returned a place in five of his six starts and was extremely unlucky not to score last time out when he was beaten right on the line by Setanta over the same track and trip.
He should be able to atone in what is a much easier race and the fact Hugh Bowman is stealing from the low draw is obviously a huge plus.
Race 4 – 1:28pm – Listed Tattersall’s Gold Crown, (2137m)
You never know what you’re going to get with Walking Flying, but this does look a winnable race for her getting back out over further.
The daughter of Tavistock was never really a threat two back in the Chairman’s, but she did show plenty through the line last time out over the mile to suggest she’s looking for the extra trip.
Ben Thompson, who is absolutely flying right now, also steps into the saddle for the first time. He’s ridden a stack of winners over the last few weeks and might just be the man for the job if he can settle behind the speed.
Race 5 – 2:03pm – Battle of the Bush (Final), (1200m)
The ‘Battle of the Bush’ looks to be one of the races of the day with a case to be made for more than a handful.
This really is a bit of a dart throw, but Tango Rain does appear to have the runs on the board after scoring his hat-trick at Rockhampton two weeks ago after racing on speed over the same trip.
The old boy by Manhattan Rain is a bit of 1200m specialist with five wins to his name, and the fact he handles soft going also works in his favour.
After carrying 62kg’s around in his latest start, I’m confident he can do it again.
Race 6 – 2:42pm – Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup, (2400m)
Incentivise returns on the quick backup into the Tattersall’s Cup following last week’s 9.5L demolition job over a touch further at Ipswich.
Steve Tregea’s four-year-old will head to the Peter Moody camp after this race and it is no surprise to find him as the short-priced favourite in his return to Eagle Farm.
The jury is still out on whether he’s a legitimate Caulfield Cup horse, but after five very impressive wins on the trot, I’m not about to back against him.
Race 7 – 3:22pm – Edward Street Brisbane BM80 Handicap, (1000m)
Plenty to choose from here between the sprinters, but I’ve gone with Genzai The Wolf on top after he battled home for a narrow win over 1200m here at Eagle Farm two weeks ago.
The David Murphy-trained four-year-old can certainly improve on that effort back to his preferred distance where he’s won three times previously, while I also like the fact Justin Huxtable is back on board.
The pair combined for a win during the spring and they also won over this same track and trip in March.
Race 8 – 3:58pm – Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara, (1400m)
This is an outstanding edition of the Tatts Tiara and it really is the perfect way to wrap up what has been a fabulous Winter Carnival.
You could make a case for most, but I’ve got to stick with the proven combo of Tofane and Craig Williams after their triumph in the Stradbroke Handicap two weeks ago.
The mare by Ocean Park has drawn to get a similar run out wide from barrier 14 on Saturday and the way she finished through the line in the Stradbroke suggested she’ll handle 1400m again in her stride.
Fitter and back to her own sex, there’s really no reason she can’t complete the double if Willo has her in a similar spot.
Race 9 – 4:34pm – Group 3 Eureka Stud W.J. Healy Stakes, (1200m)
Far from an easy race to end that day, but it does look a winnable one for Baller to make it a hat-trick in the WJ Healy Stakes.
Tony Gollan’s five-year-old showed a big turn of foot to win the Listed Goldmarket on the Gold Coast first-up from a spell, and was even more impressive two weeks ago when he gapped his rivals by 2L over the same track and trip in the Moreton Cup.
The form out of those two races reads very well for this, and although he loses Glen Boss in the saddle, James McDonald is far from a downgrade.