Tattersall’s Tiara Day is set down for Eagle Farm this Saturday as the curtain comes down on another successful Ladbrokes Stradbroke Season.
The $700,000 Tattersall’s Tiara is the feature event on the nine-race program, with the fillies and mares contest again holding its place as the final Australian Group 1 of the racing season.
The card has strong depth beyond the headline race, with six black-type events across the meeting, while the Ladbrokes Battle of the Bush Final gives Queensland’s country gallopers their opportunity to compete for a significant prize in town.
Below is my race-by-race assessment of the Eagle Farm program, including tips, best bets and value plays.
SWORD OF LEGACY (2) had legitimate excuses when finishing near the tail in the Listed Queensland Day Stakes last start.
The Matt Dunn-trained filly raced keenly and covered ground throughout after drawing the car park, which made her task difficult.
She had also drawn poorly two starts earlier in the Darby McCarthy, where she went back, found traffic, and still closed strongly to finish just under a length away in third.
Her maiden win three starts ago over 1000m at this track was a better guide, as she settled handy from a good barrier before letting down powerfully.
From the low draw, Nash Rawiller should be able to position her much more positively.
| 2. Sword Of Legacy (5) 57.5kgx2130 |
ISTOLEA MERC (13) made a strong return over 1100m at Canterbury and appears well suited rising in distance.
The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding was awkward away, received an early bump and settled worse than midfield, but he balanced up well and produced an excellent turn of foot to score by 1.16 lengths.
He has won over 1200m previously, so the extra trip second-up looks suitable.
With an abundance of speed engaged, Ash Morgan should be able to find a trailing position just behind the tempo before bringing him into the race late.
| 13. Istolea Merc (7) 58.5kg423×1 |
TANNIN (6) made an immediate impression when successful on debut at Gosford.
The Michael Freedman-trained son of Exceed And Excel quickened smartly, came past his rivals and won by 1.42 lengths.
The rise to 1400m should be suitable at this stage of the preparation, while Tommy Berry remaining in the saddle is another positive.
He jumped well on debut before taking a sit to avoid being caught wide, and a favourable barrier should allow him to settle prominently again.
| 6. Tannin (3) 57kg1 |
PESHWA (4) returns to the Ladbrokes Battle Of The Bush Final having won the race last year.
Prepared by Lindsay Hatch on that occasion, the grey produced a strong effort after racing wide and then being hampered in the straight.
He carried 53kg in last year’s win and has 56.5kg this time, although that is still well below the weights he has been asked to carry recently.
Now back with Ben Waldron, the gelding comes through the Cunnamulla qualifier, where he carried 62.5kg and narrowly defeated Roll Up.
His win in the Quilpie qualifier two starts ago was also strong, as he let down powerfully.
He brings the right form into the Final, and the engagement of Tommy Berry is significant given many of his rivals will be partnered by country jockeys.
| 4. Peshwa (2) 56.5kgx3011 |
SUN WORSHIPPER (4) comes through the Listed Ipswich Cup, where she made late ground to finish 2.39 lengths away in third.
The Matt Kropp-trained mare returns on the quick back-up, a setup that worked well for her earlier this year when she won the Magic Millions Shootout over this course and distance.
Several rivals are coming out of mile races, whereas she has built a solid staying base with three consecutive runs over 2000m or further.
That fitness profile is a positive at 2100m.
Ben Thompson takes the mount, and with clear air in the straight, she should be capable of making her presence felt.
| 4. Sun Worshipper (6) 56.5kgx6503 |
FUTURE HISTORY (2) has returned with two encouraging performances and looks suited getting to 2400m.
The Greg Hickman-trained eight-year-old resumed in the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap at Doomben, where he raced wide throughout but continued to work home and finished 1.76 lengths away in fourth.
He then improved in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup, closing strongly to finish a neck third and finishing ahead of Encoder, who subsequently just missed in the Ipswich Cup.
The rise in distance is in his favour, and the set weights conditions suit.
The outside barrier is the main query, but with only a small field and limited speed engaged, Nash Rawiller should be able to find a forward position.
| 2. Future History (6) 56.5kg14×43 |
SUN GOD (2) has returned in good order and appears ready to improve again third-up.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding resumed at Scone in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes, where he finished strongly to win by a nose.
In the Listed Spear Chief Handicap last start, he settled near the tail before sweeping home to hit the lead, only for War Eternal to rally and win by a head.
War Eternal is chasing a fourth consecutive win and remains in excellent form, but Sun God meets him 2kg better at the weights.
He would not want the track too wet, although the draw should allow him to settle in a stalking position behind War Eternal.
| 2. Sun God (1) 58kg31×12 |
MANAAL (3) was stiff not to win the Group 2 Moreton Cup when resuming last start.
The Michael Freedman-trained mare enjoyed a nice run in transit but could not secure clear air in the straight, and when she finally did, she was squeezed inside the final 100m by the eventual quinella horses before finishing 1.23 lengths away in third.
Her second-up record is excellent, with three wins and a second from five starts, and all three victories have come at Group 2 level.
The rise in distance looks ideal, and she won the Group 1 Inglis Sires’ over this trip earlier in her career.
Ben Melham should be able to land in the first half of the field and give her every chance.
| 3. Manaal (8) 57kg229×3 |
OAK HILL (6) produced a strong closing performance in the Group 2 Moreton Cup last start, finishing a neck second after recording the quickest final 200m of the race along the inside.
The Team Hayes-trained gelding had also been without clear luck in his two previous starts and should have finished closer in both.
Two starts ago in the Group 3 BRC Sprint, he settled well back, ran into dead ends late when still travelling strongly, and finished 2.38 lengths away in seventh.
From a favourable draw, Daniel Stackhouse should be able to keep him close enough to the speed.
If he is within striking distance entering the straight, he should be fighting out the finish.
| 6. Oak Hill (3) 57.5kg08872 |