Australia: Snapdancer brings top form into Tattersall's Tiara

From wins in a $710,000 sales progeny stakes in January to a Group 1 last month, the quick Australian mare Snapdancer is in the midst of her best season this year.

The victories have come at six and 6 1/2 furlongs, which makes her presence in Saturday’s Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara Stakes at seven furlongs at Eagle Farm Racecourse more of a test.

Snapdancer, trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, has won 6 of 18 starts in her career, but is winless in four starts at seven furlongs.

A 5-year-old, Snapdancer had no trouble in the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs in January and won the Group 1 Sangster Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs on May 7 by a comfortable 1 1/2 lengths.

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The $481,530 Tattersall’s Tiara for fillies and mares drew a full field of 17.

Snapdancer, who starts from an outside post, is not the sort of mare who must be in front, but typically is very close to the lead. A wide draw will force jockey Ethan Brown to utilize Snapdancer’s speed to gain an early position. Earlier in her career, Snapdancer won from off the pace in lesser races.

At Eagle Farm, which has a circumference of slightly more than 1 1/4 miles, seven-furlong races start on the backstretch before reaching a sweeping turn. The stretch is approximately two furlongs.

Snapdancer’s main rival is Annavisto, a 4-year-old New Zealand-bred filly who also races near the front and has excelled at seven furlongs. Annavisto has won 6 of 15 starts. Her only win in three starts this year was the Group 3 Tressady Stakes at seven furlongs at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne in which she was always in the first two before drawing away by 3 1/4 lengths.

Annavisto has not raced since a second by a little more than 2 1/4 lengths in the Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes at a mile for fillies and mares at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on April 9. Annavisto set the pace, but could not hold off the longshot Nimalee, who closed from third.

Annavisto drew post 11 in the Tattersall’s Tiara and will be ridden by Rachel King, who was aboard for the recent race at Randwick.

With a large field in the Tattersall’s Tiara, Annavisto was the 9-2 favorite on Thursday, a slight choice over Snapdancer at 5-1.

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