Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally
Timing right for Tofane
G1 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara, $600,000, 1400m
Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) is seeking back-to-back Group 1 success after landing last fortnight's G1 Stradbroke H. at Eagle Farm.
The Mike Moroney-trained mare draws awkwardly in barrier 14 for this event but secures the services of in-form hoop Craig Williams.
Odeum (Written Tycoon) was superb on resumption in the G2 Dane Ripper S. She endured a tough run in transit and still stuck on to finish second. She draws unfavourably here in barrier 15.
Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}) is another leading chance who will be forced to jump from out wide, barrier 16. The James Cummings 6-year-old can be forgiven for her last-start failure in the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup after pulling up lame.
Brooklyn Hustle (Starspangledbanner) has strung two wins together after prevailing at Group 3 and Group 2 level respectively. She will be spotting the lead another big start and will need plenty of speed upfront to be producing over the top, as will the Chris Waller-trained Subpoenaed (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}).
Iron filly on her game
G3 Eureka Stud WJ Healy S., $175,000, 1200m
Away Game (Snitzel) was brave in defeat here at this track and trip on resumption last fortnight. She rarely runs a poor race and can again measure up with only 54.5kgs on her back. The only knock is where she maps in the run from barrier 11 of 14.
In-form local Usmanov (Choisir) has won his past two starts on the bounce but will be required to lump 59kgs.
The 7-year-old will get a soft time of it up on speed from barrier two but may find this a bridge too far at a distance he remains unplaced at from four attempts.
Bella Nipotina
Jen Rules (Redoute’s Choice) presents here in fantastic form after finishing 1.2l behind Brooklyn Hustle (Starspangledbanner) in the G2 Dane Ripper S. here over 1300 metres. She drops back in trip and might find this a bit sharp for her.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) hasn’t won for some time despite proving competitive against her own age group. She has only won once from 17 starts but can again be right around the mark here at her first start in nine weeks.
Added incentive
G3 Tattersall’s Cup, $200,000, 2400m
Boom gelding Incentivise (Shamus Award) lines up off the quick back-up after smashing his rivals by a combined margin of 26.3l at his previous three starts. He gets in here well weighted with only 55kgs but will need to prove himself against a Group 1 winner in Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}).
Southern France (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) drops right back in class after another defeat. This is D Day for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained galloper after an extended run of outs.
Traduce (NZ) (Savabeel) presents as the best of the locals despite failing to fire at his two most recent starts. He draws in barrier seven and could prove competitive in his first attempt over 2400 metres.
Polly well prepared
Listed 97.3 Tattersall’s Gold Crown, $200,000, 2137m
Polly Grey (NZ) (Azamour {Ire}) gets in extremely well at the weights for an event of this calibre. The Chris Waller-trained mare draws barrier eight and will only give her main rival Zayydani (NZ) (Savabeel) a 1.5kg buffer.
Zayydani herself was a strong winner at the Gold Coast over 1800 metres last start and is proven at 2000 metres and beyond.
Walking Flying (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) has been beaten far in his previous two starts against genuine top-class talent.
He drops back to a weaker grade here and can find himself right in the finish, while La Grisa (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) is capable of matching motors with her better-performed rivals in this event.
Breakthrough imminent
Listed Tattersall’s Life Member S., $125,000, 1830m
Tutukaka (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), a half-brother to star Kiwi mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) looks the hardest to beat in this field of five.
The Tony Pike-trained 2-year-old was most impressive when working home into third last start after enduring a tough run in transit.
If he gets luck in running and a smart steer expect him to be hard to hold out.
Tutukaka (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
Balmaurice (Maurice {Jpn}) looms as one of Tutukaka’s main dangers after running fourth in a competitive 1350 metre event at Ipswich. He will be another of this juvenile lot who will appreciate rising in trip.
General Wolffe (Wolf Cry) finished right alongside Balmaurice in that blanket go at Ipswich. He has only finished in the top three in two of his 10 starts, but will again be around the mark.
