Peace Force Still On Track For Tatt’s Tiara

Peace Force remains on track to contest the 2015 Tattersall’s Tiara at the Gold Coast next weekend despite missing the Dane Ripper Stakes at Doomben on Saturday due to an eye injury.

Peace Force will make his Group  debut in the Tattersall’s Tiara. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Peace Force will make his Group debut in the Tattersall’s Tiara. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Peace Force was set to start the Dane Ripper Stakes as one of the favourites following her win in the Group 3 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on May 25, but trainer Gerald Ryan was forced to scratch the talented mare after she was found with an unexplained issue with her eye.

Ryan was keen to run Peace Force in the Dane Ripper Stakes, but he said that missing the run would not be a major issue for the Bernardini mare ahead of her Group 1 debut in the Tattersalls Tiara (1400m) at the Gold Coast on June 20.

“She must have got a whack in the eye but we don’t know how it happened,” Ryan told AAP.

“We had to treat her which meant she couldn’t run on Saturday.

“But she hasn’t missed any work and has won off a month break before, so it’s no concern going into the Tiara a bit fresh.”

Peace Force joined the Ryan stable ahead of the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival after previously being prepared by John O’Shea and she has improved substantially under the care of her new trainer.

She recorded three straight wins during her recent summer campaign and she made he debut at group level with a close second behind Mamwaazel in the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600) before she was sent for a stint in the spelling paddock.

Peace Force returned to racing with a second place finish behind stablemate Solicit in the Group 3 The Darley Crown (1300) at Rosehill Gardens on May 9 before she returned to winning form with a tough win in the Glenlogan Park Stakes.

The Tattersall’s Tiara will be the final Group 1 of the Australian racing season and is set to feature an outstanding field, with Stradbroke Handicap winner Srikandi, classy mare Catkins, stablemate Solicit, Dane Ripper Stakes winner Hazard and beaten Stradbroke Handicap favourite Lumosty.

Ryan is chasing his third victory in the Tattersall’s Tiara after previously taking out the Group 1 event with Mon Mekki in 2003 and Melito in 2010.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.