Eagle Farm race-by-race preview & best bets | June 26, 2021
| What | Tattersall’s Tiara Day 2021 |
| Where | Eagle Farm Racecourse – 230 Lancaster Rd, Ascot QLD 4007 |
| When | Saturday, June 26, 2021 |
| First Race | 11:43am AEST |
| Feature Race | Tattersall’s Tiara (R8) |
| Watch Live | |
HorseBetting’s Queensland form analyst brings you a full race-by-race guide for Eagle Farm on what is the final day of Group 1 racing around Australia for the season. A nine-race card has been assembled, headed by the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m). The track is rated a Good 4, but some rain is predicted later in the week which could see a potential downgrade. The rail will be out 6m for the entire course, a further 2m from the Stradbroke Handicap meeting a fortnight ago. The first of nine is due to jump at 11:43am AEST. Get all of our best bets, quaddie numbers and top four selections for each race below.
Race 1 – Listed Tattersall’s Life Member Stakes (1830m)
A field of just five two-year-olds will contest the opening race of the day, and one of the shortest priced favourites of the day in Tutukaka looks extremely hard to beat. The Tony Pike-trained son of Tavistock has finished in the placings in all three starts to date, including a fast finishing third in the Listed The Phoenix three weeks ago at this track over the 1500m trip. Pike has said that the VRC Derby beckons for this gelding in the Spring, so he would be hopeful that he can measure up here. The New Zealand youngster is a half brother to champion mare Melody Belle which is worth noting for the breeding buffs. James McDonald is flying at the minute and from barrier four he gets every chance. Should be as simple as a 40% return.
Selections: 3-1-2-5
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1372842_01]
Race 2 – Ernie Ward Memorial QTIS 3YO Fillies Handicap (1200m)
The second race is a fairly hot affair with the likes of Redoute’s Image and Eloquently taking each other on at the top of the market. While both fillies are in red hot form, we thought Tony Gollan’s Love Conquers All filly Microwave Jenny can get the job done second-up. After finishing third by only half a length at the Gold Coast first-up, the two-time-winner looks well placed with Ben Thompson in the saddle. She will get back from barrier nine, but the big straight at Eagle Farm will allow her to finish home strongly over the top. Hancora Field can give a big sight from in front under the 3kg claim of Maddy Wishart first-up as well.
Selections: 9-3-1-8
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1372842_02]
Race 3 – QTIS 3YO Colts & Geldings Handicap (1200m)
While the 3YO Fillies go around in the second, the 3YO Colts & Geldings will do battle over 1200m in the third. Again, two horses dominate the market, with Kingston’s Here and Mass Destruction the ones to beat according to the market. Mass Destruction was a narrow runner-up to his stablemate Setanta at this track and trip on June 5th and looks in this race up to his eyeballs. The Tony Gollan-trained son of Spirit of Boom has never been out of the placings at Eagle Farm, and with Hugh Bowman aboard from barrier two, he is going to get every chance to add another win to his resume. The form he has been in this prep behind Tycoon Evie, Apache Chase and Georgie’s Pride is elite to most of these, and although he has to carry the top weight of 59kg, class should prevail.
Selections: 1-5-8-11
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1372842_03]
Race 4 – Listed Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2137m)
11 mares will do battle in the Listed Gold Crown over 2137m in what shapes to be a great contest. Four runners are listed under $5.50, including Ben and JD Hayes’ four-year-old mare, Zayydani. The daughter of Savabeel finished fourth in last year’s South Australian Derby behind Russian Camelot and Dalasan, and while it had been a long time between drinks and three placings, the mare comes into this off a win at the Gold Coast a fortnight ago. The Hayes camp elected to give her an easy kill in Class 4 level over 1800m after finishing third at Listed level at Morphettville a month earlier which may have been the confidence booster she needed. Kerrin McEvoy will do the steering from barrier seven and given the pressure in the race, she should absorb it and be too good. She is the mare on the up at this time of year, she has the freshness and fitness in her legs to be winning again.
Selections: 7-2-1-3
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1372842_04]
Race 5 – 2021 Battle of the Bush Final (1200m)
The epitome of country racing in Queensland is the Battle of the Bush Final, and this year, like most years, is set to be another cracking edition with 16 horses in the final field and six emergencies. The top two horses in the market and in the weights are Bollente and Tango Rain and they are the clear class of the field. The latter comes off three straight wins; two at Mt Isa, and the latest victory in Open company at Rockhampton when he led all of the way to win with 62kg. Barrier 18 is a big concern, but the seven-year-old son of Manhattan Rain is as tough as they come. While Bollente has drawn much better in gate two under Ash Butler, Tango Rain trounced his main rival in April last year over 1200m at Mount Isa when he carried an extra 1.5kg. They are the two we want to be with, but we are confident Tango Rain can overcome the wide alley and win the Battle of the Bush for Jay Morris and Ric McMahon.
Selections: 2-1-4-7
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1372842_05]
Race 6 – Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2400m)
Another ‘put in, take out’ job presents itself in the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup for those game enough to take the short odds on offer. Incentivise is set to head south to the Peter Moody stable after this run as he looks to make it five straight wins. The Steven Tregea-trained gelding has won five from eight, with the last three victories coming by margins of 7.3 lengths, 9 lengths and 9.5 lengths respectively. The son of Shamus Award is likely to be set for some big races over the Spring Carnival in Melbourne, and while this is his biggest test to date, connections would be hoping he can win here if he is to measure up in some nice races in the Victoria. Barrier six will see the short-priced favourite settle just off the leading duo and put them to bed in the straight. He is pretty handy, this one.
Selections: 4-2-1-7
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1372842_06]
Race 7 – Benchmark 80 Handicap (1000m)
A speedy field has been assembled in this Benchmark 80 over the 1000m, and while there a few dangers, we are pretty confident that Shooting For Gold is simply better than the rest of them. The Steven O’Dea and Matthew Hoysted-trained three-year-old has won four races from eight starts, so he should thrive in this field. Drawn barrier seven for Baylee Nothdurft, he is going to get a great run in the middle of the pack, stalking a hot speed and be able to finish quickly over the top of them. The son of Shooting To Win goes well fresh, and his only run over 1000m resulted in a second placing. The firm deck will suit this classy three-year-old, and we expect him to return a winner after a sharp trial victory on June 8th. Genzai The Wolf has been racing well this preparation, and he goes well at Eagle Farm so he has to be in the mix.
Selections: 6-5-10-11
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1372842_07]
Race 8 – Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m)
The final Group 1 race of the 2020/21 racing season is the Tattersall’s Tiara for fillies and mares over 1400m. Subpoenaed was a touch unlucky a fortnight ago in the Stradbroke Handicap, and while she does rise 6kg into Weight For Age, she has drawn a much kinder barrier in gate two with Hugh Bowman in the saddle. There is plenty of speed which will set it up for this Chris Waller-trained four-year-old to finish strongly late. Tofane is the main danger after winning the Stradbroke which is the superior formline, while Odeum will be right in this if she can find a spot with cover early from the wide gate. Subpoenaed gets plenty to suit in this 1400m event which is her pet distance and her run in the Stradbroke proved that she handled the firm surface well.
Selections: 8-1-16-9
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1372842_08]
Race 9 – Group 3 Healy Stakes (1200m)
We round out the Brisbane Winter Carnival with a competitive Group 3 over 1200m and it certainly is a tough way to finish. Baller is racing in a rich vein of form for the in-form Gollan stable, while Away Game and Usmanov bring plenty of added class to the table. Peter and Will Hulbert saddle up Hail Manhattan at the juicy odds of $23 which is the way we are going to play, despite acknowledging that this is probably a furlong short of his best. The four-year-old son of Manhattan Rain won the Listed Member’s Cup at the Sunshine Coast over the mile in February, and resumed with a fast-finishing fourth to Usmanov in the Lightning Stakes over 1000m at Eagle Farm on June 5th, suggesting that he is going well and the rise in trip will be of aid. The wide alley isn’t too much of a concern, as he will get back under Jason Collett and be running on. We will back him each way and save on Jen Rules, who was an eye-catcher in the Dane Ripper Stakes.
Selections: 10-9-6-2
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1372842_09]
Eagle Farm quaddie tips for Tatts Tiara Day 2021
| Eagle Farm quadrella selections | |
|---|---|
| Leg 1: | 4 |
| Leg 2: | 5-6 |
| Leg 3: | 1-5-7-8-9-12-16 |
| Leg 4: | 2-3-6-9-10 |
| Investment: | $70 for 100% |