Brisbane trainer Kelly Schweida aiming for third Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara victory

Kelly Schweida admits aiming for his third Tatt’s Tiara after a gun Queensland Oaks effort wasn’t on the cards for Miss Joelene but is ‘worth a crack’ in order for leading jockey Jimmy Orman to snag his maiden Group 1 victory.

Kelly Schweida and James Orman. Picture: Grant peters, Trackside Photography

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Queensland trainer Kelly Schweida says claiming his third Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm on Saturday is ‘worth a crack’ if it means leading hoop Jimmy Orman can snag his maiden Group 1 title aboard rising filly Miss Joelene.

Schweida has won the 1400m Group 1 twice before with Miss Cover Girl in 2016 and Nova Star in 2007 and said this year’s event was an afterthought.

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The three-year-old finished third in the Queensland Oaks (2400m) earlier this month with both Orman and Schweida agreeing it was an effort to be proud of.

“She just had to go back too far and Jimmy wanted to creep forward from about the 900m to the 700m and he just wasn’t able to,” Schweida said.

“That might’ve been the difference, I don’t know but they seemed to walk upfront.

“I thought she ran super and with an alley she wouldn’t have been far away.”

Six months earlier, Schweida told Orman that his filly would give the leading Brisbane jockey his first Group 1 win and while that wasn’t to be in the Oaks, Schweida remained in high hopes for the $700,000 feature race.

“We’re not kidding ourselves, it would take a pretty big effort coming from 2400m to 1400m but it’s always a good race and it’s the last group 1 of the season so worth a crack,” he said.

“She had a week in the paddock and I think you probably need a miler to win this type of race but it would be a lot more special for Jimmy.”

Miss Joelene has drawn barrier 10 and opened as a $61 chance.

Ciaron Maher runner Bella Nipotina is the short priced favourite at $2.60 followed by C’est Magique ($6) and Semana ($9).

Originally published as Brisbane trainer Kelly Schweida aiming for third Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara victory