Top race mare Red Tracer faces a tough task of winning back to back Tattersall’s Tiaras after drawing barrier fourteen in the seventeen horse field for the fillies and mares at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Red Tracer draws another wide barrier in the Tattersall's Tiara at Eagle Farm. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
But the Chris Waller trained Red Tracer, who is the best performed mare lining up in the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m), made light of the outside gate last year in scoring a comfortable win over multiple Group 1 winner Streama and Floria and has the services of Nash Rawiller again.
Stablemate Catkins is certain to be given the run of the race by Hugh Bowman from the inside gate and will get her chance to win her first Group 1 after being placed twice in the top grade.
Catkins was narrowly beaten by Red Tracer in the Group 1 $500,000 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington in the Spring last year and then in the Autumn finished third to Steps In Time in the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill.
Waller will also saddle up She’s Clean who will jump from barrier twelve with Glen Boss to ride.
The Joe Pride trained Steps In Time has freshened up nicely since finishing thirteen to Lankan Rupee in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 12 and Jim Cassidy should have no problem bouncing straight to the front from barrier two.
Both of Gai Waterhouse’s entrants have drawn well with Driefontein with Damian Browne coming up with gate three and last start Dane Ripper Stakes winner Cosmic Endeavour to jump from gate five with Tommy Berry to ride again.
Victorian fillies Jazz Song (barrier 17, Jim Byrne) and Griante (15, Steven Arnold) both received the visitor’s draw while last start Doomben winner Angel Of Mercy has drawn just worse than midfield at nine with Tim Bell retaining the ride.
The in-form Avoid Lightning is the winner of three of her last four starts in Sydney and will jump from gate eleven with regular rider Tim Clark.
Avoid Lightning is stepping up to the 1400m for the first time but has been tested at Group 1 level when sixth to Platelet in the 2013 Group 1 $400,000 Sportingbet Classic at Morphettville.
But the Les Bridge trained mare has raced creditably at Stakes level with a win in the Group 3 $150,000 Hyland Race Colours Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on March 29 and a two lengths second to Cosmic Endeavour in the Group 2 $300,000 Drummond Golf Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 19.
