Saturday's G1 Sky Racing Tattersall's Club Tiara S. at Eagle Farm is the final Group 1 of the season in Australia, and therefore represents the last chance for the 16 fillies and mares assembled to secure all-important Group 1 black-type before the Southern Hemisphere calendar changes. Azkadellia (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}) already hit that mark when taking the G1 Queen Of The Turf S. at The Championships at Randwick Apr. 9, one week removed from her third-place finish behind Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) in the G1 Doncaster Mile, but the 4-year-old's Queensland winter campaign has not been straightforward thus far. The 4-year-old came from last to grab second in the G1 Doomben 10,000 May 28, but was just 10th of 18 two weeks ago in the G1 Stradbroke H. over this track and trip. She was running over what was deemed the worst part of the track, the inside, on that occasion, and she is back against her own gender here in an attempt to rebound.
Another Group 1 winner this season to line up here is Precious Gem (Aus) (Econsul {NZ}), who made a decent account of herself when carrying the colours of the China Horse Club for the first time when sixth in the Stradbroke the week after that entity bought her for A$825,000 at the Magic Millions National Sale. The 6-year-old, who won the G1 UBET Classic over 1200 metres May 7, broke slowly in the Stradbroke and was making up ground late. She has won three times over this trip.
Danish Twist (Aus) (Dane Shadow {Aus}) has done little wrong this season, having won her last four straight including the G3 Godolphin Dark Jewel Classic over this trip at Scone May 14 and the Listed June S. at Randwick a month later, and the 4-year-old tries Group 1 company for the first time here. She has a tricky task ahead of her, however, to carve out a smooth trip from the inside draw. Another set to take the top-level plunge for the first time is the veteran 7-year-old mare Cradle Me (Aus) (Easy Rocking {Aus}), who confirmed she is getting better with age with a career-best win in the G2 Dane Ripper S. over this track and trip two weeks ago.
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