Having saluted in an upset at 20/1 last Queensland Winter Racing Carnival the punters can again find the reigning champion Miss Cover Girl at a big price in 2017 Tattersall’s Tiara betting for this weekend.
Miss Cover Girl is a roughie in 2017 Tattersall’s Tiara betting to defend her title in the last Group 1 of the season. Photo: Daniel Costello.
The Kelly Schweida-trained Monashee Mountain mare backed-up from a fourth in the Group 2 QTC Cup (1300m) last June to take out the $500,000 Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara over 1400m at Eagle Farm as a $21 roughie.
She has remained winless in the 12 months since including two disappointing losses this time campaign in Brisbane.
Schweida is hoping for atonement this weekend however as Miss Cover Girl prepares to defend her Tiara title, the weight-for-age Group 1 taking place over 1350m at Doomben with the poor racing conditions at the Farm.
The Brisbane-based horseman missed his career highlight last Tattersall’s Tiara Day having been in Rockhampton where he incredibly also won the Rockhampton Cup with Ruling Force.
He won’t be missing this year’s Tatt’s Tiara however and is hoping for a major upset in the season’s final Group 1 with Miss Cover Girl at $51 to become the first back-to-back winner of the race since Bonanova (1999-2000).
Last start the five-year-old finished ninth behind fellow Tiara hopeful Miss Gunpowder at Doomben on Stradbroke Handicap Day, June 10, in the Listed Hinkler Stakes (1200m).
That run was better than it looks on paper with her regular jockey Damian Browne, aboard for the Group 1 Tiara success last winter and booked for the race again on Saturday, in the saddle for the under three length loss.
“It was a ripper of a run and she had no luck at all down the straight,” Schweida told Racing Queensland this week.
“I’m happy the way she’s going and she’s trained on well.”
Her other failed recent run was a second last (15th) behind Kurt Goldman’s gun filly Eckstein, who is a single-figure hope under $10 in Tattersall’s Tiara betting at Ladbrokes.com.au this weekend, in the Group 3 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1300m).
Miss Cover Girl had plenty working against her that day however carrying a hefty 60kg on an unsuitably Heavy (8) track.
Schweida is willing to forgive her recent form, but its he is concerned about her wide barrier 15 draw that will become 12 at best with the emergencies out.
“She had an awkward barrier last year but it was at Eagle Farm then,” h3 said.
“She’s got another bad draw this time and it’s at Doomben so I’m just hoping for a bit of luck.”
The Tattersall’s Tiara could turn out to be the mare’s final run with plans regarding her retirement up in the air after she was recently purchased for $500,000 at the National Broodmare sales at the Gold Coast.
“I have to speak to her new owners about what happens after the Tatt’s Tiara,” Schweida said.
“I thought she’d bring more at the sale and I was given her to train for the Hinkler and Tiara.”
To back Miss Cover Girl to post an upset Tattersall’s Tiara 2017 result this weekend head to Ladbrokes.com.au for the best Brisbane racing odds and offers.
