Group 1 winning mare Azkadellia has been installed the early favourite for the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Club Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Azkadellia, above, has been installed the favourite for the Tattersall’s Club Tiara at Eagle Farm. Photo by Steve Hart.
Ladbrokes.com.au has listed Azkadellia at $2.50 ahead of the Chris Waller trained Tsaritsa at $5 and the in-form Danish Twist at $7.50.
Azkadellia is one of twenty-four fillies and mares nominated for the Tattersall’s Club Tiara, the last Group 1 race for the 2015 – 2016 racing season.
The Ciaron Maher trained mare is coming off a disappointing last start tenth as favourite to Under The Louvre in the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on the opening day of the reconstructed Eagle Farm track on June 11.
From barrier five in the eighteen horse field, Damien Oliver had Azkadellia traveling in the second half of the field on the fence but when heads were turned for home, Oliver had trouble angling off the fence and was struck in the worse part of the track, losing ground while the winner and runner up, Under The Louvre and Black Heart Bart swooped down the middle of the track to fight out the finish.
“The track was clearly a lot better outside. The horses in contention were the widest runners,” Maher told Melbourne radio RSN.
Maher is willing to forget the Stradbroke Handicap run and is expecting the Shinko King mare to be back to her best against the fillies and mares on Saturday.
“She’s pulled up really well. I’m sure she’ll bounce back. Providing she gallops well we will head to the Tiara,” Maher said.
Melbourne jockey Nick Hall has been called up to replace Oliver who was also steered Azkadellia to her first Group 1 when she beat Heavens Above and Noble Protector in the Group 1 $1m The Coolmore Legacy Stakes (Queen Of The Turf Stakes) (1600m) at Randwick on day two of ‘The Championships’ on April 9.
Hall is ecstatic to get the mount on the talented mare and is also confident she can return to her best in the Tattersall’s Club Tiara this weekend.
“I’m excited to get a turn aboard,” Hall said.
“I still think she’s probably the second best mare in the land at the moment, behind Winx.”
“She’s got a lightning turn of foot. So the key will be to hold her up and use that at the right time.”
Second favourite Tsaritsa is the winner of four of her last five starts and is stepping up to Group 1 company after completing a hat trick of wins in the Group 2 $400,000 MIRVAC Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Stradbroke Handicap Day.
The Kris Lees trained Danish Twist is also racing in outstanding fashion and will be chasing her fifth win on the trot this week following her last start victory in the Listed $100,000 June Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on June 11.
Early market order for the Tattersall’s Club Tiara at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.50 Azkadellia, $5 Tsaritsa, $7.50 Danish Twist, $9 Griante, $10 Cradle Me, Precious Gem, $15 Artistry, Scarlet Billows, Sold For Song, $21 Blueberry Hill, Echo Gal, $26 Telepathic, $31 Divine Centuri, Jessy Belle, My Popette, Press Report, $41 Miss Cover Girl, Onemorezetta, Palazzo Pubblico, Sultry Feeling, $81 Electric Power, $101 Beatniks, Sagarone, $201 Raffinato.
