Victoria’s leading trainer Darren Weir admits that Scarlet Billows has to improve on her recent form to be a threat in the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Club Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Trainer Darren Weir is hoping for a top four finish for Scarlet Billows, above, in the Tattersall’s Club Tiara at Eagle Farm. Photo by Steve Hart.
Scarlet Billows was a winner four starts back in the $150 VOBIS Gold Distaff (1400m) at Caulfield on April 16, but has missed the place at her last three starts.
Since arriving in Queensland for the Winter Carnival, the Street Boss mare was always back in the field when eighth to Music Magnate in the Group 1 $750,000 James Boag’s Premium Doomben 10000 (1350m) at Doomben on May 28 and then back to a more suitable class in the Listed $100,000 Sky Racing Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m) at Ipswich on June 18 when she ran home to be fourth to Blueberry Hill.
Scartlet Billows will be up against Blueberry Hill again as well as Group 1 winning mares Azkadellia and Precious Gem, Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes winner Cradle Me and the in-form Danish Twist who has won her last four starts.
“She would have to go at her absolute best to run top four I would have thought,” Weir told RSN’s Racing Ahead.
“Her first run up there was terrible, she just got burnt off and never come into the race at all.”
“But got back to mares’ class with plenty of weight last Saturday and ran well and she has had a really good week.”
“She is obviously going to be off to stud soon so the owner was pretty keen to have a go at a Group 1 and we are hoping we can run top four.”
Weir has engaged Melbourne jockey Jack Hill to ride Scarlet Billows and he has put off a shoulder operation until he returns from Queensland next week.
Scarlet Billows has visited the winner’s circle on six occasions from twenty-seven starts with her latest win being a, half length victory over French Emotion in the VOBIS Gold Distaff.
Scarlet Billows has drawn barrier ten in the fifteen horse field and is listed as a $20 chance for the Tattersall’s Club Tiara at Ladbrokes.com.au who have the Ciaron Maher trained Azkadellia as the $2.40 favourite.
Azkadellia is coming off a last start failure as favourite when tenth to Under The Louvre in the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 11 but she is still considered the horse to beat.
But her Autumn Carnival form before that was first class and included a win in the Group 1 $1m The Coolmore Legacy Stakes (Queen Of The Turf Stakes) (1600m) at Randwick on day two of ‘The Championships’ on April 9 followed by a second in the Doomben 10000.
Market order for the Tattersall’s Club Tiara at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.40 Azkadellia, $5 Danish Twist, $7.50 Precious Gem, $8 Cradle Me, $14 Artistry, $20 Scarlet Billows, $21 Blueberry Hill, $26 Jessy Belle, Sultry Feeling, Miss Cover Girl, $41 Palazzo Pubblico, Echo Gal, $51 Press Report, Onemorezeta, $61 Beatniks.
