Talented filly Tsaritsa could head to the 2016 Tattersall’s Tiara in a fortnight after she recorded an impressive victory in the Queensland Guineas at Eagle Farm this afternoon.
Tsaritsa made up plenty of ground late to win the 2016 Queensland Guineas at Eagle Farm this afternoon. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Tsaritsa was forced to settle in the second half of the field with jockey Joao Moreira in the saddle in the early stages of the race, while the likes of Unbreakable, Perfect Dare and Indarra took up the running.
At the 300 metre mark there looked to be ten possible winners and Tsaritsa still had plenty of work to do, but Moreira was eventually able to get her to the outside of the track and she finished over the top of a gallant Denmagic to record the biggest win of her racing career to date.
“She was the best one and she gave me a great feel during the race,” Moreira said.
“I knew that I was going to be strong to the finish, which she was.
“She loved the track and the track is just playing beautifully.
“You can win from anywhere as long as you have the best horse, which I did today.
“When you ride for a big trainer like Chris Waller, your chance of winning is very high and I am pleased that I am taking the price home.”
Trainer Chris Waller confirmed after the race that he will give serious thought into running Tsaritsa in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 25, while the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 1 will be her major target during the 2016 Spring Racing Carnival.
Tsaritsa made her racing debut with a second place finish at Canterbury ion December of last year, but she was able to claim a maiden race win two starts later in the Café Culture Handicap (1400m) at Warwick Farm on January 7.
She suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of Dixie Blossoms at Warwick Farm a fortnight later, but she stamped herself as a leading Queensland Guineas contender with impressive victories in both the Schweppes Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury on April 27 and the Pat Hyland Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on May 21.
Denmagic fought to the finish and made Tsaritsa struggle to get past her in the final 100 metres, while Sold For Song made up plenty of ground from the tail of the field for a fast-finishing third.
