Byrne gives outsider Jazz Song good chance in Tattersall’s Tiara

In-form jockey Jim Byrne is giving outsider Jazz Song a good chance of causing an upset in the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Jazz Song and Jim Byrne return to scale after winning the Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich.

Jazz Song and Jim Byrne return to scale after winning the Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich. Photo by Daniel Costello.

Jazz Song was one of Byrne’s three winners at Ipswich last Saturday when she won the Listed $100,000 Sky Racing Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m) and he can see her running another mighty race even from the outside barrier.

“I just need to get a little bit of cover and she’s a filly with a really good turn of foot. I still think she’s a second-to-none chance,’’ Byrne told The Courier-Mail.

Byrne has dismissed the outside draw as any major hurdle and noted that the three placegetters in the Group 1 $1.36m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) run at Eagle Farm two weeks ago all came from wide gates.

Stradbroke Handicap winner River Lad jumped from barrier fifteen while runner-up Temple Of Boom came out of gate fourteen and favourite Srikandi crossed over to the fence from gate thirteen.

“River Lad and the other two placegetters got across pretty quick from wide gates in the Stradbroke, so it’s not the end of the world,’’ Byrne said.

“I don’t look at it as a real negative. There’s no need to be necking her at the start.”

Byrne also noted that the weather forecast was for showers and this could also assist his chances with the inside section of the track a chance to chop up later in the day.

“If that happens, the inside probably won’t be the place to be,’’ Byrne said.

Jazz Song’s win at Ipswich was her third Winter Carnival run and trainer Mick Price was originally planning to send her to the paddock but had a change of heart and decided to back up the Fastnet Rock filly this week after she pulled up great order.

The lightly raced Jazz Song will be stepping up to Group 1 level for the first time but has a Group 3 win under her belt as well as a Group 2 placing from her eight starts.

After winning the Group 3 $120,000 Simpson Construction Typhoon Tracy Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on February 21, Price shipped Jazz Song over to Adelaide where she ran second to Miracles Of Life in the Group 2 $250,000 Sportingbet Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on May 3.

Jazz Song is marked at the long odds of $31 for the Tattersall’s Tiara with Ladbrokes.com.au who have the Gai Waterhouse trained filly Cosmic Endeavour the equal $5 favourite with last year’s winner Red Tracer.

Steps In Time and Catkins are both well in the market at $6 with Sportingbet Classic winner Driefontein rated an $11 chance.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.