James McDonald has major bookie expecting punter onslaught in Tattersall’s Tiara at Eagle Farm on Saturday

Bella Nipotina is the favourite for the Tattersall’s Tiara but TAB’s senior trader Tim Ryan expects another horse to be the best backed runner come Saturday.

James McDonald after winning a Group 1 aboard Broadsiding earlier this month. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography.

Senior TAB bookmaker Tim Ryan says the James McDonald factor has the wagering giant ready for a C’est Magique onslaught from punters in the $700,000 Tattersall’s Tiara at Eagle Farm this weekend.

Saturday’s feature is Australia’s last Group 1 race of the 2023/24 season and McDonald’s form during the Queensland Winter Carnival has enhanced the champion rider’s status as the punters’ ‘pin-up boy’.

In recent weeks, McDonald has ridden nine winners from 16 rides at Eagle Farm at a 56.3 per cent strike-rate while his record during the carnival is 16 winners from 35 rides at 45.71 per cent.

McDonald teams up with premier Group 1 trainer Chris Waller and Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes winner C’est Magique which TAB.com.au has listed as the $6 second elect after drawing barrier nine.

“The holds we’ve seen on J-Mac’s rides in Queensland indicate our punters think he’s unbeatable up there,” Ryan said.

“It’s been crazy over the carnival so we’re expecting her (C’est Magiqueto) to be well supported.

“She is the horse we’re keen to lay but in saying that I don’t think we’ll have a choice.

“We’re expecting she will run our worst way in the race.”

Glamour mare Bella Nipotina has been the star of the Queensland Winter Carnival, winning the Doomben 10,000 before second placings in the Kingsford Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap.

The Ciaron Maher-trained mare has to overcome Ryan Maloney replacing regular rider Craig Williams and barrier 17 as she chases a third Group 1 success of her career.

“She’s at $2.60,” Ryan said.

“The barrier draw and the change of jockey could make her a bit harder to sell to the rank and file punters but she is the horse they know and that can’t be said about some of the other runners.

“We’ll be happy to risk Bella for a little bit but I don’t expect her to be a significant drifter.”

Bella Nipotina’s stablemate Semana is the other runner under double figure odds and Ryan says the $9 chance is the horse TAB.com.au will be “looking to keep safe”.

“She didn’t have any luck in the Stradbroke and she’s got the Zougotcha form in Sydney,” he said.

Originally published as James McDonald has major bookie expecting punter onslaught in Tattersall’s Tiara at Eagle Farm on Saturday