High class fillies looking to fly the flag for Henry Dwyer
A trio of fillies represents trainer Henry Dwyer at Moonee Valley and Flemington this weekend which should hold the Caulfield-based horseman in good stead.
Three-year-old filly Tan Tat Beauty lines up in the Spicer Thoroughbreds Handicap at Moonee Valley on Friday and it will likely be well-received by punters.
Champion jockey Craig Williams continues his partnership with the daughter of Stratum and Dwyer is expecting big things for its future.
“She’s a very talented filly. We’ve had a few little issues along the way, we’ve been patient with her, but she’s a filly I’ve got group race aspirations for,” Dwyer told horsebetting.com.au.
Tan Tat Beauty scored an impressive 1.75-length win over Summer Wind on debut at Pakenham before flashing home late at Moonee Valley when second behind Sweet Sherry. It didn’t quite let down in the Atlantic Jewel Stakes, but all going well this Friday, Dwyer might send the talented filly to Sydney.
“Friday night is the starting point. If she was to run well we’d look at taking her to Sydney in a fortnight for the P.J. Bell Stakes,” Dwyer said.
“That would be a good go for her provided she ran well on Friday night. The family handles the wet really wet so that’d be a good target for her.”
It has drawn barrier two this Friday and Dwyer is expecting to see it settle close to the pace.
“She’ll be close enough to the pace so that she doesn’t receive bad luck. She’ll be positive out of the barriers and be in the first four,” he said.
Dwyer also lines up Snitty Kitty at Moonee Valley in the Kerry Gillespie Plate and despite the wide draw, Dwyer is confident of a good run.
“She’ll roll forward and she’s done plenty of work to be fit first-up, so we expect her to run well,” Dwyer said.
The daughter by Snitzel scored a quality win at Mornington last campaign before failing last start on this track. That run came against some stiff opposition and it should find the benchmark rating 70 more to its liking.
“That was her first racing preparation and she did a pretty good job,” Dwyer said. “That last run suggested she was just coming to the end of it, but she’s a pretty speed filly.
“I’m not sure she’s up to stakes grade. We’ll just wait till after the autumn carnival for the normal Saturday city racing.”
The third and final filly to represent Dwyer this weekend will be Leotie in the Baden Racing Trophy at Flemington.
The talented daughter of Darci Brahma looked above average last campaign when finishing second in the Quezette Stakes behind subsequent winner I Am A Star, before winning back-to-back races.
It didn’t fire in the 1000 Guineas, but Dwyer is just hoping his classy filly can return to its best this preparation.
“She’s a very smart filly. We’re just hoping to get her back in the winners circle,” Dwyer said. “We’ve had a lot of issues over the past six months so we’re just keen to get her back to the races.
“Saturday’s race will be used as more of a trial, she’s had only the one jumpout this time and if we run Saturday it gives us the option of going to the Bendigo Guineas.”
Dwyer is seeking black type with the New Zealand-bred filly which has gone close in the past, but has yet to register a stakes win.
“She’s had a couple of black type placings, but no black type wins. We’re keen to get a black type win under her belt then aim for bigger targets later on,” Dwyer said.
Leotie did its best racing over the sprinting distances last preparation and despite its breeding, Dwyer believes its more suited to the shorter distances.
“She’s by Darci Brahma out of a High Chaparral mare, so her pedigree suggests she’ll get further, but I never thought she’d get past the mile,” Dwyer said.
“There’s not a lot for those fillies in Queensland unless they can stay, so it would be advantageous if she could (stay), but we just want to get her back into winning form and go from there.”