Friday Night Australian Racing — Race 7A (Eagle Farm) — 1:40 AM Saturday E

This race is the Tatt’s Tiara, the last Australian Group 1 of the season.  It is a 7 furlong (1400m) race that has drawn the best of the established horses and the new shooters.  When in doubt, go with the new shooters — #14 Cosmic Endeavor and #5 Avoid Lightning.

Cosmic Endeavor actually beat Avoid Lightning on April 19th.  since then CE has won two 7 furlong races impressively and Avoid Lightning has crushed two races at 5 and 1/2 furlongs.  If CE can reproduce her last race here she will win easily.  AL might have some difficulty stretching out to 7 furlongs, but her late kick is really incredible.

The established horses are #1 Red Tracer, #3 Steps In Time and #4 Catkins.  Historically these three have taken turns beating each other in mares’ races from 6 to 7 furlongs.  The ground figures to be firm (Aussies name it “good” ground), and that will definitely help Steps in Time and hurt Red Tracer’s chances.  Catkins will follow Steps in Time and look to get out at the eighth pole.  Catkins has never won a Group 1 but she is 22-11-5-2 in her career and 4-1-2-1 at 7 furlongs and a Group 3 winner at one mile.  She is a must use in the Trifecta under.