The final Group 1 of the 2023/24 season, the Tattersall’s Tiara, will be run this Saturday at Eagle Farm with a strong field of fillies and mares vying for the $700,000 in prize money.
This year’s edition is headlined by mighty mare Bella Nipotina who is a worthy favourite given the elite Group 1 form she brings to the race.
The Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes is the traditional lead up race and was won two weeks ago by C’est Magique who is the only other horse besides Bella Nipotina in single figures with Ladbrokes.
The Chris Waller-trained mare is looking to become the first horse since Invincibella (also trained by Waller) in 2019 to win the Dane Ripper Stakes-Tattersall’s Tiara double.
Locals have taken out the past two runnings of the Tiara and this year will be represented by Comrade Rosa, Bubble Rock, Abounding and Miss Joelene.
For our thoughts on every horse, check out our comprehensive 2024 Tattersall’s Tiara preview below. (Prices current at time of publish)
1. Bella Nipotina (17)
Price: $2.70
It is hard to argue against the claim that the form that the Ciaron Maher-trained mare brings to this year’s Tattersall’s Tiara is superior to her rivals.
The tough six-year-old is like the Energizer Bunny in that she just keeps stepping up to the mark at the highest level despite long preparations.
She arrived in Queensland three starts back and added another Group 1 to her resume when she proved too strong for I Wish I Win in the Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000.
I Wish I Win turned the tables on the daughter of Pride Of Dubai in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup, but she was far from disgraced in finishing a neck second.
Her performance in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap last start was truly astonishing.
Despite being poorly weighted and drawing an outside gate, she nearly pulled off the unthinkable by giving Stefi Magnetica the fight of all fights to finish second by a head.
The multiple Group 1 winner once again needs to deal with an outside barrier, but with even luck and the weights now in her favour, she looks hard to hold out.
2. Semana (6)
Price: $13.00
Unfortunately, a wide barrier put pay to any chance that Semana had last start when resuming in the Stradbroke Handicap.
The Ciaron Maher-trained mare settled near the tail and wide, but despite that she ran on strongly in some of the quickest closing splits of the race to finish tenth.
The four-year-old’s form last preparation was excellent with wins in the Magic Millions Cup and Triscay Stakes.
She also finished a nose second in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic and in her last race before a spell she ran on strongly to finish third by 1.4 lengths in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes.
Traditionally she’s bounced back strongly second-up and a bold showing from a friendlier draw can be expected.
3. Roots (3)
Price: $20.00
The Chris Waller-trained mare finished a half-length second in last year’s Tattersall’s Tiara and returns to Eagle Farm looking to go one better.
Unfortunately, her form doesn’t read as well as it did last year.
The daughter of Press Statement resumes here following a disappointing last place finish in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes where she couldn’t go with her opponents.
She has had a trial leading into this first-up assignment and races well fresh but given she has mixed her form badly since last year’s Tiara I’m prepared to let her go around without me.
4. Opal Ridge (5)
Price: $11.00
There’s no doubting the four-year-old is a quality mare given she has won seven of her 18 career starts.
Luke Pepper has geared everything towards this year’s Tattersall’s Tiara after the daughter of Rubick finished a credible 1.4 length fifth in last year’s edition.
She returned this preparation with a cracking win in the Listed Ortensia Stakes at Scone before not enjoying the best of runs last start in the Moreton Cup.
While her best work has been produced when first-up, she did win the Listed Luskin Star last winter when in the middle of her preparation so as a more mature horse, I’m expecting a bold showing from her.
5. Comrade Rosa (19)
Price: $31.00
The outside barrier makes it very difficult for Tony Gollan’s mare who comes off a sneaky good run in the Dane Ripper Stakes last start.
She was forced to settle back after drawing a wide gate, but rattled home in the quickest final 600m of the race to finish 2.7 lengths seventh.
The daughter of Capitalist was unlucky when finishing 1.9 lengths eighth in this race last year and unfortunately, I think she’ll be finding the line hard but will have too much ground to make up.
6. Bubble Rock (15)
Price: $21.00
The American import is an interesting runner from the Tony Gollan stable.
Purchased for $2.33 million by Kia Oro Stud in November, she boasts impressive overseas form including an all the way Group 2 win in the Mrs Revere Stakes at Churchill Downs.
She had her first run for Gollan in the Helen Coughlan Stakes where despite racing three wide the trip and looking gone in the straight, she fought strongly to finish 4.5 lengths third.
The daughter of More Than Ready will take great benefit from the run and has won three from four when second-up.
Given she will take up a forward position, she could give plenty of cheek at a big price.
7. Vienna Princess (1)
Price: $35.00
The Chris Waller-trained Snitzel mare can be forgiven for her first-up 3.9 length eighth in the Dane Ripper Stakes after drawing wide and settling too far back.
She can settle closer in the run from the inside barrier, and she will have increased fitness.
Her last win came in the Silver Eagle when second-up three preparations ago and at the peak of her career so even if she was to rise to that level, I don’t think it’s good enough to threaten the top hopes here.
8. C’est Magique (9)
Price: $6.50
The daughter of Zoustar was very good in her first start for champion trainer Chris Waller in the Dane Ripper Stakes.
She was first-up off a nine-week break but that mattered little with the mare settling second before going to the front at the 300m and easily accounting for her rivals to win by 1.5 lengths.
The four-year-old has always shown ability, finishing second to In Secret in the 2022 Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, but she now looks ready to go to the next level under Waller’s guidance.
As impressive as her win last start was, the Tattersall’s Tiara has been her target and I’m expecting significant improvement second-up.
Unfortunately James McDonald won’t be in the saddle after falling ill this week, but Blake Shinn goes on so she loses nothing there.
She is definitely one of the major players.
9. Lekvarte (7)
Price: $35.00
Joe Pride’s five-year-old mare was unsighted in the Moreton Cup, finishing 7.1 lengths last.
The 1200m was too short for her and she’ll improve second-up with the rise to 1400m.
The daughter of Reliable Man has won her past two second-up races including two preparations ago over this distance at Rosehill.
Blinkers go on the multiple Group 3 winner, but she will most likely find this field too rich.
10. Ausbred Flirt (12)
Price: $35.00
The Brad Widdup-trained mare produced a career peak performance last start when clocking the fastest final 200m of the race to finish second to C’est Magique in the Dane Ripper Stakes.
Prior to that she won a Class 5 Handicap at Wyong, so she would need to go to an entirely new level again.
Whether she can remains to be seen.
11. More Secrets (11)
Price: $101.00
The Team Hawkes mare has been freshened after running on for a 2.7 length seventh in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Cup.
She races well fresh and wasn’t beaten far when resuming this preparation with a third in the Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes.
Blinkers go on for the first time and she’s warmed up for this with a solid hit out in a Rosehill trial win, but it’s been 89 weeks since she last won and this seems beyond her.
12. Zoe’s Promise (13)
Price: $61.00
The daughter of Swear started this preparation in fine style with a four-length win over this course and distance.
Since then, the Kris Lees-trained mare has gone too hard early in the Group 3 Drinkwise Mile and the Fillies & Mares National Classic before weakening in the run home.
If the Group 2 winner was able to get a soft time in front, she could give some cheek but that looks unlikely.
13. Coco Jamboo (3)
Price: $14.00
The import was very good in her first start for the Snowdens in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Crown where after being held up, she let down strongly to win by a nose.
There was plenty to like about her next race in the Dane Ripper Stakes where she raced wide and back after drawing an outside gate, but still finished the race off well to get within 2.2 lengths of C’est Magique.
She was six weeks between runs that day so she’ll strip fitter third-up.
Barrier 3 gives Tom Sherry options which will hopefully see him settle a touch closer in the run as I can see her hitting the line strongly.
She looks a great each way chance.
14. Coeur Volante (16)
Price: $12.00
The Michael Moroney-trained daughter of Proisir settled too far back when resuming in the Helen Coughlan Stakes before rattling home in the quickest final 200m of the race to finish fourth by 4.7 lengths.
Last start it was a similar scenario with the three-year-old filly getting too far back before working to the line fairly in the Dane Ripper Stakes.
Blinkers go on for the first time and she steps up to a distance she won the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude over last preparation, so a big spike third-up looks likely.
Unfortunately, she once again draws poorly so Blake Shinn will need to produce a ten out of ten ride.
She’s a talented lightly raced filly so with luck in running, she can feature.
15. Roll On High (15)
Price: $11.00
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained three-year-old filly ran on strongly to win the Group 3 Fred Best Classic two starts ago and earn a golden ticket into the Stradbroke Handicap.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go to plan after a slow start and she raced wide and towards the back but still got to the line quite well.
She’s drawn nicely for Vlad Duric who rode her in the Fred Best Classic victory.
Considerable money has come for her early so that has to be respected, but she now meets Bella Nipotina and Semana considerably worse at the weight after being easily beaten by them.
16. Abounding (18)
Price: $34.00
Rob Heathcote won this race with Startantes in 2022 but his filly looks up against it this year.
The Magic Millions 3YO Guineas winner bounced back to form last start in the Dane Ripper Stakes when finishing third by 1.72 lengths.
She’ll be at peak fitness fourth-up but from the second outside gate, she may use too much gas in the run against this quality of opposition.
17. Miss Joelene (10)
Price: $41.00
The Kelly Schweida-trained filly raced better when she got out in trip so the drop back to 1400m here looks concerning.
Two starts back she produced a huge effort to finish a length third in the Group 2 The Roses before backing it up with an equally impressive third in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks last start.
Schweida won this race in 2016 with Miss Cover Girl but a second title looks unlikely.
18e. Banana Queen (2)
Price: $81.00
The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained mare is drawn to get a great run, but she looks outclassed after finishing nearly 13 lengths behind C’est Magique in the Dane Ripper Stakes.
19e. Willinga Beast (14)
Price: $41.00
The Kris Lees-trained mare won the Listed Hinkler Handicap last start, but connections look likely to make the right decision and go to the W.J. Healy Stakes.
The Judgement
Bella Nipotina (1) brings premium form to this race and is weighted beautifully under the conditions of the race.
Three starts back she won the Group 1 Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000 before finishing a neck second in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup.
The Ciaron Maher-trained mighty mare came within a head of creating history when she finished second in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap last start.
Just as she did that day, she will need to overcome barrier 17 so it will take a brilliant ride from Ryan Maloney. Thankfully, “Pug” is riding in super form at the moment.
If she isn’t over the top and gets even luck, she’ll be hard to hold out.
I’m happy to support her given she is the class runner in the field and proven at the top level.
Selections:
1st – Bella Nipotina
2nd – Semana
3rd – C’est Magique
4th – Coco Jamboo