In-form trainer Bjorn Baker is set to saddle up two runners, Bonny O’Reilly and Egyptian Symbol, in Saturday’s Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (1350m) at Doomben.
Bonny O’Reilly, above, is one of two runners for trainer Bjorn Baker in the Tattersall’s Tiara at Doomben. Photo by Steve Hart.
Both mares have performed creditably at two runs each during the Brisbane Winter Carnival and both will have good chances in the last Group 1 of the 2016 – 2017 racing season on the weekend.
Bonny O’Reilly made it five wins on the trot with her victory in the Listed $100,000 IPG Marketing Solutions Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on June 3 followed by a third behind the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained stablemates Prompt Response and My True Love in the Group 2 $200,000 Bundaberg Rum Dane Ripper Stakes (1350m) at Doomben a week later.
Egyptian Symbol made up good ground from the back when second to Eckstein in the Group 3 $150,000 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1300m) at Eagle Farm on May 27 and then ran a handy race when seventh to Impending in the Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben a fortnight later.
Baker has reported to racing.com that both mares are in great shape heading into Saturday’s Group 1 for the fillies and mares.
“They are both in good order so hopefully they can both run a race,” Baker said.
Baker was especially pleased with Bonny O’Reilly’s third placing in the Dane Ripper Stakes after jumping from barrier thirteen in the fourteen horse field.
“I thought she ran really well in the Dane Ripper. Drew wide and had to do a bit of work, an excellent effort,” Baker said.
“If she can draw a gate in the race on Saturday, she is a definite chance.”
Twenty-eight fillies and mares have been nominated for the Tattersall’s Tiara with Stradbroke Handicap runner up In Her Time being installed as the early $3 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au while Bonny O’Reilly is marked at $10 just ahead of Egyptian Symbol at $11.
Early market order for the 2017 Tattersall’s Tiara at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3 In Her Time, $7 Eckstein, Prompt Response, $10 Bonny O’Reilly, $11 Miss Gunpowder, Danish Twist, Egyptian Symbol, $17 My True Love, French Emotion, Kinshachi, Nancy, $21 Maternal, $26 Savoureux, All Over Bosanova, Berry Delicious, Payroll, Bidii Babe, Elle Lou, Miss Cover Girl, Sold For Song, Tycoon Tara, $34 Girl Sunday $41 Madotti, $51 Slightly Sweet, Rare Occurrence, $67 Don’t Tell Mam, $201 Honey Holt, Leica’s Lass.
