G1 Tatt's Tiara Day - 25.06.2016

Back to Eagle Farm this weekend for the final major of the season in the shape of the G1 Tatt's Tiara for the fillies and mares.

I'll be carefully monitoring the track as the day progresses because two weeks ago it raced very differently early in the piece to what it was doing come the final races and I'm going to treat it like a genuine wet track.

Who's Hot? 

Jockey Damian Browne had four rides at Ipswich last weekend and won two of the features aboard Maurus and Ninth Legion and placed on his other two mounts.

His best chances of success at Eagle Farm tomorrow look like Hopfgarten (Race 3 No. 1) and Charnley River (Race 7 No. 1).

EAGLE FARM

*** At time of publication the track was rated a Soft 6. The forecast was for a sunny day. ***

The Tatt's Tiara (Group 1, 1400m, fillies and mares set weights)

Current Sportsbet market

*** My Poppette is an early scratching ***

Azkadellia looks well placed at weights here and has had four goes at the journey for two wins and two seconds. Her only miss was last start (below) in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap when she was in the worst part of the track. Her wide barrier could be a blessing given the way this Eagle Farm track was playing late in the day a fortnight ago. That was only the second time in her career she's missed a top three finish so it may pay to be forgiving. Trainer Ciaron Maher won this race last year with Srikandi.

Precious Gem got a mile back last start (above) in the G1 Stradbroke but made some ground late to finish sixth although she was beaten a long way. She b eat Azkadellia home that day but meets her 2kg to the worse here. Her previous three runs this campaign were great with a narrow defeat first-up followed by back-to-back wins including a G1 Sangster Classic. A three-time winner at 1400m.

Cradle Me won the G2 Dane Ripper Stakes at this track and distance last start and is looking to become the third horse in four years to complete the double. Prior to that she beat all bar Ghisoni in the G3 Glenlogan Park Stakes. Her record at the trip is good (7:2-2-1) and three starts back she has form around Music Magnate. The wide gate is no help. 10 of her 11 wins came on firm tracks.

Danish Twist won the Provincial Championship (below) four starts back and hasn't been beaten since. She's had eight starts at this trip for four wins and four placings and showed her versatility last start when lumping 56kg to beat the boys in the Listed June Stakes because she was four weeks between runs and dropping from 1400m to 1100m. Leading G1 rider Hugh Bowman takes the ride and draws the inside. Beware a mare in form.

In the nine runnings of this race since it went to G1 status and 1400m four winners have returned double figure odds so let's have a look at some of the others even though they are all going to start $14+.

Artistry, Jessy Belle and Onemorezeta filled the minor placings in the G2 Dane Ripper Stakes behind Cradle Me with the former probably being the best run of the trio given she came from behind the other two on what was at the time a leader biased track. Jockey Kerrin McEvoy stays solid and he did ride the winner of this race last year. Wet track form is poor. Jessy Belle will meet her a kilo better off here and has three wins and five placings at the distance plus she does have wet track form. Onemorezeta meets all three that finished in front of her in that race better at the weights and she did have to overcome a wide draw that day but she will have to do so again.

Sultry Feeling has been freshened for this and that's when she seems to produce her best. Three goes at the journey for no wins and just the solitary placing is a worry and she's drawn poorly here too. Miss Cover Girl was only half a length off the boys (below) in the G2 Q.T.C. Cup last start. She's won and placed at the trip before and handles all surfaces and her jockey is riding really well. She's only missed a top five finish three times in her 25 start career. Blueberry Hill was super at Ipswich last week and is unbeaten in the wet. Beatniks also has good form on affected ground and 1400m does seem to be her pet trip. She's been close-up without threatening in all the traditional fillies and mares lead-up races.

Locky's Selections

BEST        

1. Azkadellia

DANGER  

2. Danish Twist

FOR EXOTICS

6. Jessy Belle

5. Miss Cover Girl

15. Blueberry Hill
14. Beatniks

OTHER BET

Charnley River (Eagle Farm Race 7 No. 1) was excellent (below) in the G1 J.J. Atkins Stakes. He drew barrier 17 and was used up a little early to find a spot before being left in front shortly after the turn. Only Sacred Elixir was able to get past him in the end, he still looked strong on the line and he's likely to strike a similar track here tomorrow. He only needs to reproduce that effort to win here.

Sold For Song (Eagle Farm Race 10 No. 9) was good in the G2 Queensland Guineas when third behind Tsaritsa and meets that filly 2.5kg better off here. I'm gambling that by late in the day they'll be coming wide just like they did two weeks ago. She's two from two on slow tracks which will help if this surface starts to deteriorate and I like the face that she has drawn out while the short priced favourite has drawn inside. Watch for her late.

Good punting!