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The last Group 1 race of 2012/13 is upon us after an event-filled thoroughbred racing season, in the shape of the Tattersal’s Tiara, or Winter Stakes as it was formerly known.
The ‘mares only’ weight-for-age (WFA) race over 1400m normally produces a worthy winner, often either an established classed horse like a Melito, or a mare that has been knocking on the door of Group 1 glory before finally securing it, as in the case of one of my old favourites, Absolut Glam.
Tomorrow’s edition looks a reasonably cut-and-dried affair in terms of winning chances, as should probably be the case under the weight conditions and with exposed form. That said, there are a couple of untapped horses sure to make their presence felt.
Sometimes Streama feels like she’s been racing since the days of black-and-white TV, despite still only being a four year old. Trained to win the AJC Oaks in her three year old year, she’s proven to be a very good sprinter-miler, racing very consistently despite having to carry more weight than her rivals on many occasions.
Her last two starts, fourth in the Doncaster and third in the Stradbroke, suggest she’s cherry ripe to pull off victory here. She’s arguably the most versatile horse in the sport in terms of where she can sit in the run, which will be a huge advantage for Bowman from barrier one.
Skyerush must be one of the most underrated mares in work, winning three of four this prep, two of them at around the $17 mark. Three times she’s raced at Group 1 level, all at mares WFA, for a pair of fourths in separate Myer Classics, and a second behind Pear Tart in this last year.
In fact, only once in her last ten starts has she finished worse than those fourths, and her opening price of $11 at Sportsbet was attractive to punters, and they’ve backed her into $8. I’ve always felt Guy Walter is able to consistently get the best out of a good mare, and Skyerush and Streama are no exceptions.
Red Tracer has run second at the highest level twice this campaign, and this is exactly the sort of race her connections would be thinking she should win. She ran a close-up fourth in this last year, beaten half a length, and we can make the case she’s going even better this time in.
She’s coming off a nice lead-up win in the Dane Ripper, just as she did last year, but the biggest tick in her favour is the jockey on board. Nash Rawiller is unbeaten on her with four rides for four wins, including all of her three wins in the 2012/13 season. He doesn’t get a chance to ride her often, but makes it count when he does. The question is, will their partnership be enough to offset the widest gate in a 16 horse field?
Steps in Time took care of Streama and Red Tracer back in the Sydney autumn, but I’m not sure she’s as effective later in her prep. She did have a freshen before her two Queensland runs, but has been disappointing nevertheless. Not saying she absolutely can’t win, but you’d be backing on trust only, and I might want a few more points that what we’re currently getting.
She’s Clean has come from nowhere under Chris Waller, and by now we should all be well aware not to underrate anything from that stable. She’s taken care of the boys in her last two starts, and does have a win over Appearance before that as well. How many times do we see a horse coming into a Group 1 off a string of wins, and just think they maybe don’t have the class. Tomorrow we’ll find out if this horse does.
Floria is one that might get under a few guards at $17, and has been racing competitively around two of the favourites, only beaten narrowly by Skyerush and Red Tracer. Obviously not well suited at the weights against the mares who have been there and done it, but Peter Moody only puts his horses in races they can win.
Peron appears to be the best of the three year olds and shouldn’t be left out of considerations. I do feel like the older horses will have her measure, but we know how the age group has taken all before them over the season.
Arctic Flight and Spirit Song, at $21 and $17 respectively, wouldn’t completely shock, but I fancy they’d need to find a length or two to beat all of them.
Selections: 1.Skyerush 2.Red Tracer 3.Streama 4.She’s Clean
For what it’s worth, my favourite Group 1 win of the season was Miracles of Life in the Blue Diamond, and to be honest it’s as close to a non-contest as it can be in a year when Black Caviar not just raced, but broke the long-standing track record, her first, in the race named after her.
The South Australian no-name combination of trainer Daniel Clarken and jockey Lauren Stojakovic delivering with a brilliant filly brought out all the joy that Australian racing has to offer, and warmed hearts everywhere.
Where else in the world would connections have stuck with the 29 year old female apprentice in a million dollar race? And boy did she deliver.
You may find Group 1 rides to equal the perfection of the race she rode, but none to surpass it.
I don’t mind admitting a tear not just in the eye, but trickling down the face seeing her beaming smile in the mounting yard. Yep, that will do me for the best memory of the 2012/13 racing season.