Fillydelphia targets G1 Tatt’s Tiara

Fillydelphia deserves a Group 1 before she retires and her target at the Brisbane winter carnival will be the Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 21.

The Bianconi mare’s victory in the LR Sunshine Coast Cup (1400m) last Sunday gave her connections plenty of confidence for the future. “That was one of her best wins,” trainer Robert Heathcote said. “She jarred up at Doomben last month so I gave her a couple of extra weeks off.”

Fillydelphia (6m Bianconi – Edel Vanessa by Encosta De Lago) is a homebred for Frank Wolber and she banked her first big pay-day in the G3 Rough Habit Plate (2020m) in May 2011.

Sunday’s victory sent her bank account to almost $580,000 from 11 wins in 38 starts. “At her best, I rate her one of the best mares in Queensland,” Heathcote added. “She missed last year’s carnival after being poked in the eye by a grass stalk which developed into an ulcer.

“I might consider sending her to Sydney before the winter carnival,” he said. “She’s been a fantastic mare and has won a stakes race every year of her career.”

Fillydelphia will tune up for a possible trip south in the LR Tatt’s Members Cup (1600m) at Eagle Farm on March 1. Her Sydney goal will be the G3 Aspiration Quality (1600m) at Randwick on March 15.

She has a 2yo brother by Bianconi and their dam Edel Vanessa foaled a filly by Parameter for Queensland breeder George Warrener in September.

Bianconi (Danzig) stands at Swettenham Stud and remains a Top 10 sire in Victoria with the winners of 47 races and earnings over $1.21 million this season.