Te Akau Saturday Success - Part 3

A daring front running ride by twenty-year-old apprentice jockey Lee Magorrian enabled Tiara (4 m O'Reilly - Royal Lady, by Stravinsky) to romp home as a long priced winner in the Christmas At The Races Rating 65 1600 metres on Saturday Nov. 8 at Te Rapa.

After working forward from a wide gate to assume a clear lead and galloping freely passing the 800 metres, Tiara took a three length advantage to the 300m and was unflinching in her run to the line.

“They were running fiercely off the front all day at Te Rapa,” said trainer Jason Bridgman. “She drew an outside gate and claimed a couple of kilos (52.5kgs) and we thought we'd let her jump out, slide across and land where she was happy - if she made the lead then all well and good.

“He (Magorrian) ended up letting her run her own race and got a nice breather across the top, then really put the hammer down before straightening which ended up being the winning break. It was good heady ride; she (Tiara) was a more than willing partner and kept up a good gallop to win in slick time (1:34.7). It was a pretty good effort, just second up in her campaign.

“She needs to work through the grades,” said Bridgman, "and able to, then we can look at some fillies and mares options later in the season. I'm a bit undecided at the moment what her optimum trip is. She would likely have another mile or two and with a little more maturing and racing she could be a nice prospect to race on pace over 2000 metres. At least today she has shown to have the ability to lead and always it's a big thing in taking luck out of the equation”.

Tiara had staged a massive run to win her maiden over a mile at Tauranga, and she sustained a big run in her lead up to the Wellfield New Zealand Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) when second to Chazelle (High Chaparral) over 2100 metres in February at Te Rapa.

“I'm always happy to get a winner but would have liked a couple of hundred each way on her,” said Waikato Stud stalwart Garry Chittick, after Tiara returned tote odds of $19.80 & $5.20.

“They ran a great time (1:34.7) and half a second quicker than the horses a grade higher in the previous race.

“She's always been a nice filly. I thought the rider had a chance to slot in one off, three back but he pressed forward and if that's the way she wants to run then so be it,” said Chittick.

Neither her five time winning dam, Royal Lady, or grand-dam Royal Tiara (Blanco), who included victory in the 1995 Auckland Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m), were able to win short of 2000 metres, which indicates both the athleticism in Tiara and the pedigree to go further.

A filly of considerable quality, Royal Tiara also finished second in the Queensland Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m), AJC St Leger (Gr. 2, 2800m) and Waikato Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m), and secured earnings of $367,000.

Picture credit - www.raceimages.co.nz