The Godolphin blue army dominates the betting for the 2019 Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Savatiano, above, is the favourite for the 2019 Tattersall’s Tiara at Eagle Farm. Photo by Steve Hart.
Last start Eagle Farm winner Savatiano at $6 and the three year old fillies Pohutukawa at $6.50 and Multaja at $7.50 are the top three in the betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the last Group 1 race of the 2018 – 2019 Australian Racing Season.
Godolphin’s Queensland supervisor Nacim Dilmi however disagrees with the bookies at Ladbrokes.com.au and is leaning towards the filly Pohutukawa as the stable’s top pick.
“I was going for Savatiano but after yesterday’s (Tuesday) gallop I have changed,” Dilmi told Sky Racing at the Tatt’s Tiara barrier draw.
“It was bad to look at (her last run) and she did really well to pick herself up and finish third.
“She has worked really well yesterday and deserves to be favourite.”
Pohutukawa had to be severely checked at the 250m before Blake Shinn could balance her up again to run into third place behind Kolding and Baccarat Baby in the Group 2 $350,000 Ascot Green Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Stradbroke Handicap Day on June 8.
Shinn has elected to stick with Pohutukawa who is likely to jump from barrier four in the capacity eighteen horse Tattersall’s Tiara field.
Savatiano has won a 1000m Gold Coast barrier trial since winning the Group 3 $150,000 Grinders Coffee Roasters Stakes (1300m) at Eagle Farm on May 25 and if all the emergencies fail to gain a start, the Street Cry mare will jump from gate twelve with Tommy Berry retaining the ride.
“She has got three emergencies (drawn) inside her and hopefully things go well for her – she is pretty quick out of the gates so she will be racing on speed,” Dilmi said.
Dilmi is also expecting a bold showing from Multaja who was also an impressive worker on the tracks during the week.
“Blake (Shinn) was kind enough to ride her work (this week) and he was very happy with her, she is pretty switched on and she will be ready to go,” Dilmi said.
Jeff Lloyd takes over from Shinn on Multaja who will likely settle in the second half of the field from barrier ten.
“Her racing pattern is to be ridden from the back so the barrier really doesn’t really matter for her,” Dilmi said.
Multaja is facing a huge step up in class to the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara after winning the Listed $125,000 Mittys Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on June 1.
