Champion trainer Chris Waller took an iron grip on the Group One Tatt’s Tiara when his mares filled three of the first four placings in its traditional lead-up, the Group Two Dane Ripper Stakes.
Waller’s Invincibella ($8.50) beat Gold Coast mare Platinum Angel ($31) by a long neck with a half length to another Waller horse in Prompt Return ($7.50).
Yet another of Waller’s mares Noire ran home strongly from near last to be fourth.
It was back-to-back Dane Ripper wins for Invincibella who ran fifth to Prompt Response in last year’s Tatts Tiara.
Waller said Invincibella, Prompt Return and Noire would all head to the Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm on Saturday week.
“Invincibella raced very well in the spring last year and then won the Magic Millions fillies and mares race,” he said.
“But she wasn’t suited by wet tracks in the autumn in Sydney and back on a dry track today she was always going to be hard to beat.”
Waller said Invincibella would probably go to stud this year.
“I am not saying she will definitely go to stud but she has won over $2 million in prize money so she has done a good job.”
Jockey James McDonald completed a race-to-race double on Invincibella and was full of praise for her.
“She really is a mighty mare and when we had such a nice run she was always going to be hard to beat,” McDonald said.
Trainer Toby Edmonds was thrilled with the run of Platinum Angel who will also head to the Tatt’s Tiara.
“That was her third run back from a spell so she should be ready now,” Edmonds said.