Improving Victorian filly Griante looks set to back up in the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Griante is a good chance to back up in the Tattersall's Tiara at Eagle Farm. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Griante finished a game second to Jazz Song in the Listed $100,000 Sky Racing Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m) at Ipswich last Saturday and co-trainer David Brideoake is keen for her to take her place in the final Group 1 of the season against the fillies and mares.
“She’s come through in fine order and she will run in the Tatts Tiara on Saturday,” Brideoake told Racing Network.
“She has come a long way in this preparation and just continues to improve.”
“I thought she was pretty brave in the straight last week and she almost overcame the wide gate.”
The speedy Griante, with Dwayne Dunn in the saddle, crossed from a wide gate and set the pace before being overhauled by the Mick Price trained Jazz Song who is also a candidate to back up this week.
The lightly raced Good Journey filly was having her first run at Stakes level in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic and will be stepping up sharply in class again when she takes on Group 1 company this weekend.
Griante arrived in Queensland with four wins from eight starts including a hat trick of Melbourne Saturday wins against three year old fillies.
A win over 1440m at Caulfield followed by two wins over 1600m, one at Caulfield one at Sandown prompted Brideoake and co-trainer David Feek to consider a trip to Queensland for the end of the Winter Carnival.
Caulfield trainer Mike Price is also contemplating backing up Jazz Song following her winning performance in the Gai Waterhouse Classic.
Jazz Song had finished fifth at both her Winter Carnival starts in the Group 3 $150,000 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on May 24 and in the Group 2 $350,000 Sky Racing Queensland Guineas (1400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31 and was due to head to the spelling paddock after running at Ipswich.
But Price will now see how she pulled up and the Fastnet Rock filly could get her chance to perform at Group 1 level.
“My original thoughts was to spell her after the Gai Waterhouse but I’ll speak to my staff first and see how she pulls up,” Price said.
The Tattersall’s Tiara has already lost one of its major drawcards with nominal favourite Srikandi not to run because of soreness in her feet.
But the Group 1 for the fillies and mares is still loaded with plenty of talent including the Chris Waller trained trio of Red Tracer, Catkins and She’s Clean, the Gai Waterhouse pair of Cosmic Endeavour and Driefontein and Coolmore Classic winner Steps In Time.
