A last start winning mare from the Chris Waller contingent, Kiku, is gaining traction in Tattersall’s Tiara 2022 betting as the market mover ahead of today’s Group 1 feature at Eagle Farm.
Waller is in the hunt for his third Tatt’s Tiara trophy and is well-represented in this year’s edition saddling-up four starters in the $700,000 showdown.
Included in the stable’s runners is market mover Kiku, backed in from $17 to $10 in Tatt’s Tiara odds at Ladbrokes.com.au.
The in-form Zoustar four-year-old comes into an ideal barrier eight draw following the withdrawal of emergencies with Tommy Berry to ride the last start $500,000 Magic Millions National Classic (1600m) winner.
Berry is full of confidence now that Kiku has ticked the Eagle Farm box, and believes he is on a livewire chance to hand him a second win following his 2014 success aboard Cosmic Endeavour for Gai Waterhouse.
“It’s a big plus having a run on that Eagle Farm track especially with how firm it can get and she’s done that and come away with a win,” Berry told the Cairns Post this week.
“Chris (Waller) drops them back in trip in a lot of these sort of races, you look at his runners in the Doncaster Mile and stuff like that, he runs them over 2000 metres before dropping back to a mile.
“It makes sure they’re rock hard fit. Group 1s are high pressure races so it means they’re ready for the occasion and she will be no different.”
Waller ran the trifecta in the National Classic at Eagle Farm on June 4 and his two place-getters, Nudge (2nd) and Atishu (3rd), also face off in a rematch in today’s Tiara race back at the track.
Nudge, drawn wide, is rated a $17 chance to turn the tables, while perennial third place-getter Atishu is at $11 coming into barrier three for jockey Jay Ford.
Also in the mix for the stable at a forgotten quote of $34 and drifting is Written Beauty who was far from disgraced running 1.65 lengths fifth to Palaisipan after over-racing from a wide alley in the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m) here on June 11.
The Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained Annavisto remains firm favourite to take out the Tiara at $5 upon resuming, the last start Group 1 Queen Of The Turf runner-up ready to fire fresh boasting an impressive first-up record.
The prolific Maher/Eustace stable saddle-up two of the key dangers with their last start Group 1 Rpbert Sangster Stakes winner Snapdancer ($5.50) jumping from the far outside alley, and former headline filly Away Game ($8) looking to return to her best with William Pike in the saddle.
Meanwhile, easing in the markets and out to a bit of value now is the sole filly taking on the older mares in this year’s Tattersall’s Tiara field, the local Robert Heathcote-trained Startantes.
From 2008-2021 five three-year-old fillies have won the Tiara and the $13 price for Startantes, the Star Turn three-year-old coming off a credible fifth at big odds in the Stradbroke, to be the next look attractive.
The other potential value contenders include Chris Munce’s So You Think four-year-old Palaisipan ($21) coming off an upset win in the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m), and the Kris Lees-trained Wandabaa who ran second last time out behind Baller in the Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m).
Click here for the latest Tatt’s Tiara 2022 odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.
