Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse is looking forward to a big day’s racing in Brisbane to see out the Group 1 racing season for another year saddling up a number of livewire chances across the Eagle Farm card this weekend including Queenstown in the 2014 Tattersall’s Open Mile.
Queenstown is favourite to win the last on Tattersall's Tiara Day at Eagle Farm this weekend. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.
The final race on the program, this year’s $100,000 Listed Centenary Classic Mercedes Benz Open Mile (1600m) runs as the eighth at 4:15pm on Saturday.
There are 12 hopefuls in the mix, the favourite in the Tattersall’s Open Mile odds being Waterhouse’s Stratum mare Queenstown.
The four-year-old is at a current quote of $2.90 after coming up trumps with barrier two, top hoop Tommy Berry to ride as part of his stellar Eagle Farm book of rides he’s come back from Hong Kong for headlined by Cosmic Endeavour in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m).
Queenstown races in Queensland for the first time here and is only second up from a lengthy six and a half month spell.
She returned on May 31 at Rosehill over 1400m when a close third beaten under a length by Tromso in a handicap clash from a wide barrier (10 of 12).
That followed an outstanding spring campaign that included a narrow Group 2 second over 2000m at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival and a third over the mile and a half in the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) behind Sertorius.
Waterhouse is hoping she can return to that level again starting with her mile run on the weekend, her first look at the 1600m since her second in the Angst Stakes at Randwick back in October.
Close second favourite in Tattersall’s Open Mile betting at $3.80 is then the John Thompson-trained Transporter, the six-year-old Commands gelding having won their last start at the track and distance on June 7.
They were a tidy two and a half lengths clear of runner-up Choice Bro in the Listed Strawberry Handicap that day and will relish another run over the 1600m here against a similar class of rivals.
There is then just one other runner under $10 in the markets with Belle De Coeur paying $5.50.
Luke Price’s Show A Heart mare has been in top form this season and is deserving of a Group victory after a number of close calls.
Most recently in Brisbane she was runner-up to Sriknadi, who went on to finish third in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) a fortnight ago, in the Group 3 Glenlogan Park Stakes and then third last time out.
That was a stellar effort over 1400m here on Stradbroke Day in the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes behind the Waterhouse-trained quinella of Cosmic Endeavour (1st) and Driefontein (2nd) who back up in the Tiara on Saturday.
Waterhouse meanwhile is also represented in the last of the day by $10 chance Travolta, the 60kg top weight to be ridden by Nash Rawiller in their first run since a fourth in the Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) in New Zealand at the start of March.
Check out the current Tattersall’s Open Mile 2014 odds in the table below complete with links to Ladbrokes.com.au so you can back your selections at the guaranteed best odds in the country!
