Tattersall’s Tiara day in Brisbane on Saturday. Eagle Farm was rated a Dead 5 on Thursday and with fine weather forecast, the track should border on Good/Dead range on raceday.
It was a Heavy 9 for Randwick on Thursday. With a shower or two leading up to Saturday, the track could border on Slow/Heavy range on raceday.
In the Hardy Brothers Jewellery Handicap (Brisbane Race 3, 1200m), the Kelly Schweida-trained Discreet looks a standout. The 3YO has been racing consistently in stronger class. Back to 1200m and down sligthly in class on Saturday suits the filly well. Barrier 1 wouldn’t be an advantage though as she’ll settle back in the field. With Kirk Matheson’s 2kg claim, Discreet will be carrying 57kg which represents only 3kg above the limit weight. Discreet looks the right way to go in this race.
In the Breakfast Creek Hotel Stakes (Brisbane Race 4, 1400m), I believe the top weight Octane Flyer can make it a double for Schweida. Octane Flyer was outclassed in the Queensland Sires & TJ Smith Stakes in his past two starts and he drops drastically in class on Saturday. He’s a get back horse so the barrier 11 shouldn’t worry him. At set weight, Octance Flyer may just have the class edge.
In the Tattersall’s Cup (Brisbane Race 6, 2200m) Brian Smith has two runners and I like Rothera. Two starts back, the gelding ran a close 2nd carrying 59kg to the form horse of the Winter, Quintessential in the Chairman’s Handicap. And last start in the Brisbane Cup, Rothera ran on admirably beaten only 2.4 lengths. Back to 2200m looks perfect for him and from barrier 8, Ric McMahon will settle him midfield one off the fence and get a lovely trail. Currently at $4.80 in the fixed odds market, Rothera is my pick for the Tatt’s Cup.
In the final Group 1 race of the season, the Tattersall’s Tiara (Brsbane Race 7, 1400m) is an open race. If Red Tracer has drawn better (barrier 16), I’ll be tipping her to win the Tatts Tiara. She put up a mighty effort last start in the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes when she also came out from barrier 16 and was asked to carry 59.5kg. Nash Rawiller was able to park her up the pace and kicked strongly in the end. With a bit more pace in the Tiara, I doubt if Nawiller could give her such a nice run in transit. Streama ran a blinder in the Stradbroke Handicap last start finishing 3rd, only 1 length behind the winner, Linton. She has a great record over 1400m, having never missed a place over the distance from 5 starts, and winning 3 of them. She handles all conditions winning from Good to Heavy tracks. From barrier 1, Bowman can settle Streama behind the pace on the fence without spending any energy and I believe Streama will finish the race the strongest. Currently at $4.40 fixed odds, Streama is my tip for the Group 1 Tatts Tiara.
By Owens Wong, Editor
