Talented local Miss Cover Girl has mustered a career-best performance to break through for a maiden win at the highest level in this afternoon’s Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm Racecourse.
Miss Cover Girl produced a career-best performance to win the 2016 Tattersall’s Tiara at Eagle Farm. Photo: Daniel Costello
Miss Cover Girl was sent off a $21 chance of success in the 2016 Tattersall’s Tiara, but did her chances of success plenty of good when she jumped well and took an ideal position in transit within the field of fifteen and on the rail as Echo Gal set the early pace.
Veteran hoop Damian Browne elected to peel the daughter of Monashee Mountain off the fence rounding onto the final straight, and was rewarded for his positive riding when the four-year-old delivered a scintillating turn of foot to pull clear and withstand a late charge from race-favourite Azkadellia; hitting the line a half-length ahead.
Browne’s ride was arguably the difference in Miss Cover Girl being crowned the 2016 Tattersall’s Tiara winner, and the hoop was pleased to partner the mare back into the winner’s circle.
“She’s been a great mare but hasn’t had a lot of luck right through her career,” Browne said.
“Today she was able to get into a great spot, everything just fell into place and she showed what she can do.
“She gave me a lovely ride and I couldn’t have been happier throughout, I was deep with cover and just worked her into it at my own tempo. When I asked her to give me a kick, she gave me a really strong one.”
Trainer Kelly Schweida missed his stable star’s Group 1 victory after elected to travel to Rockhampton for the running of the local Cup race, but foreperson Haley Nichols was on hand to reveal the 2016 Tattersall’s Tiara did not always figure as the major target for Miss Cover Girl this time.
“It is unreal, she’s a stable-favourite and a special horse. It’s amazing to end her prep like this,” Nichols said.
“We had her ready for the 1200m, the first race back here but the event was scratched, so then we had to go to the 1300m the next week and the fitness just wasn’t quite there.
“So we decided to come here today!”
Punters who backed Miss Cover Girl to win the 2016 Tattersall’s Tiara with leading online bookie Ladbrokes.com.au have been paid out on generous $21 odds in the unique Enhanced Odds market!
2016 Tattersall’s Tiara Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | MISS COVER GIRL | Kelly Schweida | Damian Browne | – | 9 | 57kg | $21 |
| 2 | 1 | AZKADELLIA (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Nicholas Hall | 1L | 11 | 57kg | $3F |
| 3 | 7 | SULTRY FEELING | James Cummings | James Orman (a) | 2.3L | 14 | 57kg | $26 |
| 4 | 13 | ONEMOREZETA | Kris Lees | Jeff Lloyd | 2.8L | 15 | 57kg | $61 |
| 5 | 6 | JESSY BELLE | Luke Oliver | Chris Symons | 3.8L | 7 | 57kg | $20 |
| 6 | 4 | CRADLE ME | David Pfieffer | Zac Purton | 4L | 13 | 57kg | $7.50 |
| 7 | 3 | PRECIOUS GEM | Henry Dwyer | Blake Shinn | 4.3L | 4 | 57kg | $5.50 |
| 8 | 2 | DANISH TWIST | Kris Lees | Hugh Bowman | 4.4L | 1 | 57kg | $7 |
| 9 | 9 | SCARLET BILLOWS | Darren Weir | Jack Hill | 5.7L | 10 | 57kg | $21 |
| 10 | 11 | ARTISTRY | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 6.2L | 12 | 57kg | $12 |
| 11 | 15 | BLUEBERRY HILL | Liam Birchley | Jim Byrne | 9.7L | 8 | 55.5kg | $26 |
| 12 | 14 | BEATNIKS | Steven O’dea | Paul Hammersley | 9.9L | 2 | 57kg | $51 |
| 13 | 10 | ECHO GAL | Gai Waterhouse | Ms Tegan Harrison | 11.7L | 3 | 57kg | $41 |
| 14 | 12 | PALAZZO PUBBLICO | Matthew Smith | Michael Cahill | 15.2L | 6 | 57kg | $81 |
| 15 | 8 | PRESS REPORT | Lee Curtis | Ryan Wiggins | 15.7L | 5 | 57kg | $51 |
