It’s known as the “Breeding Barn Stakes”, but don’t think for a moment that tomorrow’s Tattersall’s Club Tiara, the final G1 of the Australian season and the race that wraps up the Brisbane Winter Carnival, will be the last time you’ll see most of the mares in the line-up.
If recent runnings of the A$500 000 (US$375,000) Tatt’s at Eagle Farm Racecourse are anything to go by, there could be plenty more to come from many of tomorrow’s runners.
So watch how the race pans out (it’s off at 3.15 p.m. Brisbane time, which is 1.15 a.m. EST and 10.15 p.m. PST tonight, and it’s being streamed live in the United States). It may pay to follow the winner and a few of the losers in the future.
Sixteen horses have been confirmed, including favourites Azkadellia, Danish Twist and Precious Gem.
Here we look at five runners in the last four renewals who used the seven-furlong event for fillies and mares as a foundation for a sequence of superb performances late in their careers.
Skyerush
As a 7-year-old, Skyerush was a 40-1 second behind Pear Tart in the 2012 Tiara. That was the start of an exceptional run that included a half-neck win over Riva De Lago in the G3 Liverpool City Cup and victory in the Doncaster Prelude (G3). Two weeks later, she took the G2 M.J. Bale Emancipation Stakes, earning back-to-back wins for trainer Guy Walter.
Red Tracer
Already a G1 winner, the Chris Waller-trained mare raced clear from several interstate contenders in the 2013 Tatt’s Tiara to win by 2 1/4 lengths from fellow Sydney raider Streama. She began the following season by finishing second in the G3 Golden Pendant (G3) but then notched three fabulous consecutive victories - in the G2 Yellowglen Tristarc Stakes, the G1 Myer Classic and G2 Millie Fox Stakes.
Streama
Although defeated by Red Tracer, Streama achieved tremendous success herself after that 2013 Tatt’s. She landed the G1 George Main Stakes, her second race after the Tatt’s. A few disappointing results followed, but then she went into overdrive, sweeping the G2 Wimmers A.D. Hollindale Stakes and G1 Titan Energy Services Doomben Cup.
Floria
The mare was five when she finished third in that same 2013 Tiara, a short head behind Streama at 20-1. A tough season followed, highlighted by one G3 win and a couple of good places, but, when she returned to the Brisbane Winter Carnival in 2014, she faced off bravely against Moriarty and Zephyron to claim a well-deserved first place in the G2 Croser Brisbane Cup.
Avoid Lightning
Runner-up in last year’s Tatt’s, Avoid Lightning had already taken part in the race back in 2014, when she lost to Cosmic Endeavour. However, she showed she had real star potential with two post-Tatt’s victories – the G3 City Tattersall’s Club Nivison and the G2 Drummond Golf Sapphire Stakes.
U.S. race fans can steam the race live at Sky Racing World’s website australianracing.com, where they can also get free past performance data, programs and racecard analysis. Betting and live-streaming of the Tatt’s is available at advance deposit wagering sites like TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, BetAmerica, MyWinners, WatchandWagerandNYRA Rewards.
David Haslett, a former Managing Director of Sportech Racing, was appointed President and CEO of Sky Racing World in April, 2014. The Louisville, Kentucky-based company, a subsidiary of Australian wagering firm Tabcorp, provides Australian, New Zealand, South African and South American content for simulcast horse-race wagering to multiple North America-facing ADW brands and race-tracks.