Varenna Miss
There were a few people who picked out Varenna Miss as a bit of chance earlier in the year despite her results not setting the world on fire in Sydney.
They spotted something there and the Brisbane Carnival was to be her major test of ability.
It is a test she’s dominated and at one stage she was even touted a potential Stradbroke Handicap winner.
In the end it was a race she bypassed but we’ll get one more look at her this weekend when she tries for her maiden Group 1 in the Tattersall’s Tiara at Eagle Farm.
Trained by Tony Noonan, Varenna Miss is unbeaten from her two winter starts in Queensland this year.
Her first run was at Doomben on the undercard where she started a clear favourite. She got the job done there and moved into the QTC Cup where she faced a red hot field and a horror barrier.
In fact she had to go pretty much around the entire field but still ran home the strongest and won by a clear margin.
Noonan’s stable foreman Mick Robins says the team has taken plenty of confidence out of that run, especially given the quality of the field he left behind.
“She won that race well from a wide barrier,” he said.
“The horse that won the Stradbroke (Sincero) ran 11th. It’s a pretty strong form line.”
He says they have a distinct advantage having had a three week gap between runs.
“The thing going for us is she didn’t run in the Stradbroke and she’s going in as the fresh horse,” he said.
“If she was going to stud, the owner (Glen Frazer) and Tony probably would have run her (in the Stradbroke), but I think she will be a better mare next prep. She’s only had 10 races.”
He does acknowledge though that the field they face on Saturday is a very strong one.
Most notably is of course the Doomben 10,000 winner Beaded.
The Peter Snowden trained mare has easily accounted for Varenna Miss in Sydney one more than one occasion.
“The fact it’s weight-for-age makes it tough,” Robins said.
“Beaded beat her pretty easily when they met at Caulfield.
“Beaded is such a good little mare that she will probably back up. Good horses like her just keep racing well but going in fresh suits Varenna Miss.
“Brooke Schreuder rides her in all of her work and can’t fault her since the QTC Cup.”
All up there are 18 nominations for the Tattersall’s Tiara with the final field and all important barrier draw not too far away.
There are a number of key inclusions which have been confirmed as starters already though including last start winner in the Dane Ripper Hurtle Myrtle, third placed Stradbroke finisher Zero Rock and Gai Waterhouse Classic winner Born To Rock.
