Stradbroke Handicap winner Srikandi is the new favourite for the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Club Tiara (1400m) at the Gold Coast today after Gai Waterhouse’s brilliant filly Najoom failed to gain a start.
Srikandi, above, is the new favourite for the Tattersall’s Club Tiara after Najoom failed to gain a start in the final field. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Najoom was originally listed as the second emergency for the fillies and mares Group 1 but was able to hold on to the top spot in the market order at Ladbrokes.com.au up until the final scratching deadline this morning.
The Northern Meteor filly needed two above her in the field to be withdrawn but with only the Kris Lees trained Thump being scratched this morning, that wasn’t enough for her to sneak in the final field.
First emergency Tarloshan was elevated into the starting line-up but third and fourth reserves Jazz Song and Vergara missed a place.
The Anthony Cummings trained Vergara will go around in the $85,000 Ranvet Handicap (1600m) at Randwick today on a heavy 10.
The Gold Coast track is also rain affected and is rated a soft 7 to start the day, but this won’t worry Srikandi who has a two from two winning record on a heavy surface, including a win on this track last year when she took out the Listed $150,000 Turangga Farm Silk Stocking (1200m) on a heavy 8.
The Ciaron Maher trained Srikandi found her best form this Winter with a last start win in the Group 1 $2m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben a fortnight ago and now heads the market order for the Tattersall’s Club Tiara at $4.
But unlike her win in the Stradbroke Handicap when Kerrin McEvoy was able to give her the run of the race from barrier one, this week she has to overcome the outside gate in the sixteen horse field.
The Chris Waller trained Catkins is the second pick in the betting at $4.50 ahead of mudlark Avoid Lightning at $7 and smart Melbourne filly Lumosty at $7.50.
Tattersall’s Club Tiara market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4 Srikandi, $4.50 Catkins, $7 Avoid Lightning, $7.50 Lumosty, $15 Hazard, $17 Peron, Peggy Jean, $19 Dublin Lass, $21 Politeness, Solicit, $26 Real Surreal, $31 Estonian Princess, Tarloshan, Rose Of Choice, $41 Bound For Earth, $61 Diademe.
