The $700,000 Tatt’s Tiara marks the final Group 1 of the Brisbane Winter Carnival this Saturday at Eagle Farm.
Bella Nipotina is in search of her third Group 1 following last fortnight’s runner-up effort in The Stradbroke, with Group 2 Dane Ripper winner C’est Magique occupying the second line of betting at time of publish.
Earlier on the program, the Group 3 Tatt’s Cup shapes as one of the more open betting races between the stayers, while there’s a case to be made for several in the Healy Stakes to wrap up the day.
Nine races are on offer, and we’ve got you covered with our best bets across Tatt’s Tiara Day below!
Race 1 – 11:43AM TATTERSALL’S LIFE MEMBERS QTIS 3YO Fillies Plate (1200 METRES)
Open race between the fillies to kick off the program with a case to be made for more than a handful.
Cassiere showed plenty of ability in her first start for Tony Gollan when resuming at Doomben three weeks ago, overcoming a slow start to wind up with a big run down the outside to finish runner-up to Payline.
The daughter of Swiss Ace only warmed to the task late over shorter and did have excuses down the straight when she made contact with another runner.
Her win on debut at Matamata in March was a sign of things to come and she has drawn a more suitable gate this time that should allow to get right back off the speed.
This is the toughest race she’s contested, but the booking of James McDonald commands respect.
Suggested Bet: No. 11 Cassiere
Race 2 – 12:18PM IMPRESSU PRINT GROUP TATTERSALL’S STAKES (1400 METRES)
Depth Of Character looks ready to peak now third-up for Annabel Neasham.
The colt by Deep Field stamped himself as one to follow when winning on debut at Canterbury late last month, coming on strongly from the tail of the field to get up in his final few strides thanks to a patient ride from Tom Sherry.
He lost no admirers straight up to Listed level in the Oxlade Stakes here at Eagle Farm a fortnight ago, overcoming a slow start and making up good ground along the inside to finish a distant third to Megastar Heart.
Some juice in the track should see him improve and another bold showing can be expected with J-Mac engaged carrying 57kg.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Depth Of Character
Race 3 – 12:53PM EDWARD STREET BENCHMARK 85 Handicap (1200 METRES)
Nashira has been up for a while but continues to hold his form nicely.
The Zoustar five-year-old appeared close to another win when second to My Snow Queen at Doomben two runs back, before returning off a three-week break in the Listed Hinkler Handicap where he was beaten just under a length in a blanket finish.
The O’Dea and Hoysted-trained gelding has another tricky gate to overcome but should find this easier back to BM85 level with Billy Egan also riding in hot form of late.
Sticking to 1200m is a plus, and with a superior record featuring three wins here on his home track, I’m happy to have something on each-way.
Suggested Bet: No. 12 Nashira
Race 4 – 1:28PM 2024 LADBROKES BATTLE OF THE BUSH FINAL NMW-Last 2 Yrs Qlty Hcp (SC) (1200 METRES)
Keen on The Carpenter in the Battle Of The Bush Final, the race he’s been set for over the last couple of months.
The seven-year-old son of Rothesay has been a model of consistency throughout his prep, stringing together four impressive wins in succession on country tracks leading in.
Seven of his 12 career wins have come over 1200m, the latest coming at Mt Isa where he lugged 69kg to victory as a very short favourite.
Jason Hoopert sticks and from an ideal draw with big relief at the weights, the pair should be in this for a long way.
Suggested Bet: No. 11 The Carpenter
Race 5 – 2:07PM HMW GROUP TATTERSALL’S GOLD CROWN (2143 METRES)
It’s been close to a year since she last won a race, but Awesome Wonder really hasn’t put a foot wrong in recent efforts, suggesting another victory might be on the horizon.
The Galileo mare was strong through the line on a bottomless track at Kensington a fortnight ago, charging down the outside to grab third off a four-wide ride in transit.
Dropping back from 2400m is a big tick in the right box, and she should find the firmer footing more to her liking if Tommy Berry can offset the wide gate early.
This is her first look at Eagle Farm but with three placings from her last four starts, there’s nothing to suggest she can’t run well.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Awesome Wonder
Race 6 – 2:47PM MOTORAMA TATTERSALL’S CUP (2400 METRES)
Happy to give Spirit Ridge another chance after fading late in The Q22 on Stradbroke Day a couple of weeks ago.
Not sure he was suited by the weight-for-age conditions that afternoon and the wide gate certainly didn’t make things any easier for Ryan Maloney with the pair beaten over six lengths.
His previous win came only narrowly over 2000m, but we did see him run a place over 2400m in The Metropolitan at Randwick last year deeper into his prep.
Likes some sting out of the track, draws to find cover this time and should find this more suitable with some relief at the weights.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Spirit Ridge
Race 7 – 3:23PM TATTERSALL’S MILE (1600 METRES)
Charterhouse is the one I want to be on with real scope for improvement coming off a run in the Wayne Wilson two weeks earlier.
Ciaron Maher’s six-year-old was a month between runs when beaten 2.4 lengths by Freedom Rally, stoking up nicely along the outside where he just lacked the dash over the final 100m once the speed quickened.
That was just his second start back from a spell, so he does appear well-placed sticking to the mile from a much better gate on this occasion.
Three of his five wins have come on soft going and if he can settle handy to the speed this time, he’ll be strong in the finish.
Suggested Bet: No. 4 Charterhouse
Race 8 – 3:58PM TATTERSALL’S TIARA (1400 METRES)
The gate and the booking of Ryan Maloney are the two big queries around Bella Nipotina, but on class alone she probably wins.
Her last two efforts at this level have been almost faultless, hitting the line hard two weeks ago in the Stradbroke down the outside where she just came off second-best conceding weight to Stefi Magnetica.
Ciaron Maher’s multiple Group 1 winner should look to get back early in the run and I don’t think a soft track really hurts her chances.
Hands down the best horse in the race and also boasting a win over I Wish I Win in the Doomben 10,000, this looks a nice consolation for her to end the Carnival on a winning note.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Bella Nipotina
Race 9 – 4:35PM EUREKA STUD W.J. HEALY STAKES (1200 METRES)
Keen on the Snowden-trained Tashi in a tricky Group 3 sprint to end the day.
The Sebring mare has been given a good gap between runs since finishing second in the Takeover Target at Newcastle last month, given a nice patient steer from the wide barrier before working home nicely down the centre of the straight.
Back on a firmer deck is a big positive for this smart four-year-old, while it’s worth noting she beat home Pereille at Randwick earlier in March, form that has held up nicely with the Godolphin runner going on to place in the Hinkler a couple of weeks ago.
Likely needs luck from out wide but with three of her four wins coming over 1200m, she rates a decent each-way chance.
Suggested Bet: No. 12 Tashi