A good barrier and a drying track have trainer Matt Dunn growing in confidence Madotti can make a mockery of her long price in the Tattersall’s Tiara.
Dunn, who has won 90 races overall this season, is chasing his first Group One win with Madotti who has drawn barrier one.
She is as much as $71 with Luxbet because of her recent run of outs in three runs this preparation.
The mare has won four races, including a $1 million race at the January Magic Millions carnival, but she has often had no luck.
At her last start she finished 10th behind Prompt Response in the Group Two Dane Ripper Stakes (1350m) at Doomben two weeks ago.
But Dunn said all three of Madotti’s efforts since her spell were much better than they looked on paper.
“She won a trial in good fashion and then she drew an outside barrier when first-up eighth in the Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast,” Dunn said.
“Then we took her to Sydney and she ran on a wet track which didn’t suit her. At her last start she drew the car park again and was back in the field and wide.”
“I know she ran tenth but she was only three and a bit lengths away which considering the ground she covered was excellent.”
Dunn said the simple fact was Madotti went better when drawn near the fence and on good tracks.
“She has never won from a wide barrier and she has never won on a rain-affected track,” Dunn said.
“You only have to look at her record. She won the Magic Millions fillies and mares race from barrier four on a good track.”
The Murwillumbah-based Dunn’s best win to date was in the 2016 Group Two The Roses with Kebede.
“I haven’t had many Group One runners. This has been our best season by far in many respects and it would be great to finish it with a Group One win,” Dunn said.
Multiple Group One-winning jockey Robbie Fradd will ride Madotti as he seeks his first win in elite company since moving to Queensland.
“She is a nice mare with conditions to suit,’ Fradd said.
