Tycoon Tara will return to mares company for the 2015 How Now Stakes and trainer Symon Wilde is confident that there are plenty of factors in her favour for the Group 3 event that will be held at Caulfield tomorrow.
Tycoon Tara has the chance to return to winning form in the 2015 How Now Stakes at Caulfield this weekend. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Tycoon Tara stamped herself as a legitimate contender at the highest level of racing during her autumn campaign and she started her 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a more than credible sixth behind Chautauqua in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on September 5.
Wilde told Racing Ahead that he was pleased with the performance of Tycoon Tara in the McEwen Stakes and he fancies the chances of the talented mare in the 2015 How Now Stakes this weekend.
“We were pretty pleased,” Wilde said.
“Weight-for-age conditions probably didn’t quite suit her and she was beaten 3.8 by Chautauqua, which is not bad form for a race like this.
“1000 metres is a big short for her and I don’t think Moonee Valley is her ideal track either, so there are a few plusses going into this.
“She has good form at Caulfield, up to 1200 is a tick and back to mares grade is a tick.”
Tycoon Tara was settled in the second half of the field in the McEwen Stakes, but she has shown plenty of speed during her racing career to date and she took up the running when she finished a gallant fifth behind Miracles Of Life in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on May 2.
Wilde said that he is yet to decide on the firm riding instructions that he plans on giving jockey Luke Currie, but he is confident that the talented hoop will have a number of options when the five-year-old jumps from barrier 12 in the How Now Stakes.
“She has good tactical early speed and she can sit off them when we need to,” Wilde said.
“She is very versatile like that and that is one positive from a bad draw, she has a few options.
“She is not really one dimensional.”
Tycoon Tara is currently available at 2015 How Now Stakes odds of $8.50 with Ladbrokes, while Team Corstens-trained Vezalay ($4.20) is currently a clear favourite from Dane Ripper Stakes winner Hazard ($7) and Robert Smerdon-trained Politeness ($8.50).
