Australia: Ruthless Dame faces easier group in Tattersall's Tiara Stakes

Ruthless Dame went from a win in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes for fillies and mares at Morphettville Racecourse in Australia on May 6 to a fifth-place finish in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on June 10.

It can be argued Ruthless Dame ran as well in the $1.99 million Stradbroke Handicap against open company as she did in the Sangster.

The theory will be tested when Ruthless Dame returns to racing against fillies and mares in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara Stakes at seven furlongs at Eagle Farm on Friday evening.

The Stradbroke Handicap at seven furlongs is one of the toughest sprints of the year in Australia. This year, the race drew a field of 18.

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Ruthless Dame, trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, closed from 14 to finish fifth, 2 1/2 lengths behind Think About It. In the Sangster Stakes at six furlongs, Ruthless Dame closed from 11th in a field of 14 to win by slightly less than three-quarters of a length.

John Allen rode Ruthless Dame in the Sangster and regains the mount for the $472,700 Tattersall’s Tiara.

The Tattersall’s Tiara is part of a nine-race program that begins at 9:43 p.m. Eastern or 6:43 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Ruthless Dame, a winner of 3 of 7 starts, is relatively inexperienced. The Sangster Stakes was her first win in a Group 1 and her second stakes win.

In the Tattersall’s Tiara, Ruthless Dame is likely to be the second choice in the betting behind Opal Ridge, a winner of 6 of 12 starts for trainer Luke Pepper. Opal Ridge also runs from off the pace, but tends to do so from a closer stalking position than Ruthless Dame.

Opal Ridge was second by a neck as the 6-5 favorite in the Dane Ripper Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on June 10. The Tattersall’s Tiara will be Opal Ridge’s Group 1 debut.

The field also includes Palaisipan and Chain of Lightning, who were fourth and sixth in the Stradbroke Handicap; Comrade Rosa, who won the Dane Ripper; and Foxy Frida and Kiku, who were first and second in the Magic Millions National Classic at Eagle Farm on June 3.

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