Stradbroke Handicap winner Srikandi heads a strong list of nominations for the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Club Tiara (1400m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Stradbroke Handicap winner Srikandi heads the nominations for the Tattersall’s Club Tiara at the Gold Coast. Photo by Daniel Costello.
The Group 1 feature for the fillies and the mares will be run at the Gold Coast this year while it’s traditional home at Eagle Farm racecourse is out of action due to the ongoing redevelopment of the track.
The Tattersall’s Racing Club would be very pleased in receiving twenty-four high quality entries for the Tattersall’s Club Tiara and include last start stakes winners Hazard, Dublin Lass, Najoom and Real Surreal.
Srikandi is chasing back to back Group 1 wins after taking out the Group 1 $2m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben last Saturday week and is a two time winner on the Gold Coast track from two appearances.
The Ciaron Maher trained Srikandi has shown her liking for the Gold Coast track with victories in the Listed $150,000 Turangga Farm Silk Stocking (1200m) during the 2014 Queensland Winter Carnival followed by a win this year in the Group 2 $200,000 SMEG Victory Stakes (1200m) on April 25.
“Back to fillies and mares, on the Gold Coast where she really likes to race, seems ideal,” Maher told The Herald Sun.
Lee and Anthony Freedman have Hazard racing at the peak of form and the Flying Spur mare will be chasing her fourth win on the trot following wins at Caulfield, Morphettville and Doomben.
Hazard kicked off her winning streak with a narrow victory against the mares over 1100m at Caulfield on May 2 before heading to Morphettville to win the Group 3 $115,000 Proud Miss Stakes (1200m) two weeks later.
The Freedman brothers then headed to Queensland where Hazard proved too strong for the Chris Waller trainer Catkins in the Group 2 $300,000 Best Security Dane Ripper Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on June 6.
Catkins is also among the nominations and will get her chance to turn the tables on Hazard and win that elusive Group 1 trophy.
The popular grey mare has been placed five times at Group 1 level and a win at the highest level would be well deserved.
The Robert Smerdon trained Lumosty will also get her chance to re-enter the winner’s stall after she was caught wide when tenth to Srikandi in the Stradbroke Handicap.
Lumosty’s Melbourne form was first class before she headed to Queensland scoring a first up three lengths win over 1100m down the Flemington straight and then returned to the same venue for a two and three quarter lengths win in the Listed $120,000 The Straight Six (1200m) on May 23.
Stablemate Politeness is also among the Tattersall’s Club Tiara nominations.
Gai Waterhouse has nominated Najoom who showed that she has recovered from a minor leg injury with an easy win in a 1000m Gold Coast barrier trial on June 9.
The Northern Meteor filly created a huge impression at her only Winter Carnival appearance with a sensational three and a quarter lengths wins in the Group 3 $125,000 Sita Australia Fred Best Classic (1350m) at Doomben on May 23.
Peter and Paul Snowden have three entries with last start Bright Shadow Handicap winner Dublin Lass, the well performed Rose Of Choice and Group 1 winner Peggy Jean.
2013 Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Real Surreal will return to the scene of her greatest victory and trainer Kelso Wood is keen to back her up after winning the Listed $100,000 Sky Racing Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m) at Ipswich last Saturday.
