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Since its elevation to G1 status in 2007, the Winter Stks (or Tatts Tiara as it is now known) has been an important target for mare owners.

Run as the last G1 of the season, it has previously been taken out by some highly regarded ladies including Miss Potential, Porto Roca, Bonanova twice, Dane Ripper, Mamzelle Pedrille and Melito. Which gal can gain that big G1 to conclude the season?

• 2006 – LA SIZERANNE 4m (Stravinsky x Tricia Ann) ($6)

Jockey: Michael Rodd, Trainer: Roger James

Barrier: 6, Weight: 52.5kg

Gross Time: 1:31.29 (1500m), 600m Sectional: 36.82

Margin: 1.3L, Track: Slow, Starters: 13

2nd: Gee I Jane (57.0kg), 3rd: Villa Bled (52.5kg)

The final Winter Stks before its upgrade was run on a similar wet track to that which was produced for the Stradbroke a fortnight earlier. La Sizeranne was a mare just below that elite G1 level in New Zealand so Roger James brought her over here to that status just off the Sydney and Melbourne carnivals. She was 2nd in the Glenlogan Park Stks as her final Straddie run and was forced wide in the G1. Onto the Winter Stks where she met fellow kiwi Gee I Jane who had beaten her home in the big one. La Sizeranne settled midfield in the run and stayed there until the straight where she got a margin and kept it much of the run home. She'd one more crack in the Glasshouse at the Sunshine Coast but it proved one too many and was retired. Oh how she'd loved to have had it one year later from the breeding perspective.

• 2007 – NOVA STAR 4m (Iglesia x Filnova) ($12)

Jockey: Stathi Katsidis, Trainer: Kelly Schweida

Barrier: 7, Weight: 56.5kg

Gross Time: 1:22.09 (1400m), 600m Sectional: 35.17

Margin: 0.1L, Track: Good, Starters: 20

2nd: Fashions Afield (56.5kg), 3rd: J'Adane (55.0kg)

This was the first time the Winter Stks was run at G1. Nova Star hadn't waited to be a star at Eagle Farm as she came from hiyacky to score a scintillating over Fashions Afield in the Queensland Guineas twelve months earlier coming last of 19. Before her '07 G1 win she had run some nice races including a Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast, a QTC Cup (the bane of all Stradbroke lead ups) and the Straddie itself Where she could have finished closer to Sniper's Bullet. But again at her favourite track she got back not quite as far in the Winter Stks and on the slightly firmer surface, she could use that paralysing burst better. She did just that and who did she run past – Fashions Afield again who must have been sick of the sight of her rear. Gai had made a big play for the G1 with Fashions and Aqua D'Amore out of retirement but the Qlder was too fast and too strong. Job done winning the G1.

• 2008 – ABSOLUT GLAM 3f (Snowland x Pine Away) ($4.50 fav)

Jockey: James Winks, Trainer: Danny O'Brien

Barrier: 5, Weight: 55.0kg

Gross Time: 1:24.04 (1400m), 600m Sectional: 37.03

Margin: 1.3L, Track: Slow, Starters: 20

2nd: Fritz's Princess (56.5kg), 3rd: Alverta (56.5kg)

Absolut Glam showed enough as a 3yo in the Spring that she might contend in some fillies classics in the Autumn. Her Thousand Guineas run was good without going over the top. After pulling up lame in the Kewney she was set for the Qld Winter carnival. Shockingly stiff in the EI delayed Magic Millions trophy, she was blocked for a run in the BTC Sprint where Antidotes fell. She then ran a cracker in the Stradbroke almost hitting the lead with 200 to go only for the stronger, older, harder male heads to prevail on the fence. So a fortnight later she had to be some show back against her own gender. Calchris and Dance Girl Dance led and it was run at a fairly good tempo. Turning for home and there were multiple chances but James Winks had put her in a great position all the way and she hit the front inside the 200m mark. He drove her clear despite a late challenge from Alverta, Fritz's Princess and Vormista to win both the filly's and his first G1.

• 2009 – RUSSETING 4m (Commands x Granny Apple) ($21)

Jockey: Michael Cahill, Trainer: Bart Cummings

Barrier: 6, Weight: 57.0kg

Gross Time: 1:22.64, 600m Sectional: 36.25

Margin: 0.8L, Track: Good, Starters: 20

2nd: Prima Nova (57.0kg), 3rd: Subtle Cove (57.0kg)

Bart's timing has never been questioned as his Melbourne Cup record shows. Yet again he showed it here as the week before the Winter Stks clients bought a Commands mare and gave it to him to train. Russeting was a nice Brisbane mare but hardly considered G1 material. She'd won the Juanmo and ran well in the Silk Stocking, Glenlogan Park and Dane Ripper. Sitting just off the speed on a better track than had been the case through most of the carnival, she got a split and kicked clear holding a late finish from Prima Nova. Her comeback in the Spring was uninspiring but she has done the job already by winning a G1 for connections.

• 2010 – MELITO 3f (Redoute's Choice x Cloister) ($3.75 fav)

Jockey: Corey Brown, Trainer: Gerald Ryan

Barrier: 12, Weight: 55.5kg

Gross Time: 1:21.83 (1400m), 600m Sectional: 35.09

Margin: 0.8L, Track: Good, Starters: 12

2nd: Wealth Princess (57.0kg), 3rd: Beaded (57.0kg)

Talk about a deserved win. OK she had already won a G1 in the TJ Smith in Sydney but her Brisbane form was simply fantastic. Melito was 2nd in the BTC Cup, 3rd in the 10,000 and 2nd in the Stradbroke. Just outstanding G1 form with great consistency. Well Gerald Ryan gave her one more crack. This was in the F&M G1 and the final major for the year. In a surprise tactic, Corey Brown took her forward and she landed in the lead after doing some work from the wide draw. On turning she looked vulnerable with the kiwi Wealth Princess looming out wide but she died on her run. It was a tough fighting win and the long campaign may have made the Spring a tougher assignment.

RACE PROFILE

o Became G1 in 2007 - same time became a set weights race and was taken back to 1400m.

o Breakdown of fillies to mares is F (7) – M (10) in last 17.

o Barriers have usually needed to be low in number from the Stradbroke start which is different to the big handicap.

o Not a great race for the favourites before Melito.

o Last 10 Winners Most Prevalent Age of winner – 4yo (6 times)

o Last 10 Years Winningest Barrier Range <5-8> - 5 times

o Last 10 Winners Average Price of winner – $9

o Breakdown of winners – 3 fillies & 7 mares

o Last 10 Years TJ Smith Stks / Winter Stks double – Melito ('10)

o Last 10 Years QTC Cup / Winter Stks double – Nova Star ('07)

o Last 10 Years Coolmore Classic / Winter Stks double – Porto Roca ('01)

o Last 10 Years Juanmo Stks / Winter Stks double – Russeting ('09)

o Last 10 Years Silk Stocking / Winter Stks double – Nova Star ('07)

o Last 10 Years MV Fillies Classic / Winter Stks double – Absolut Glam ('08)

o Last 10 Years Darley Plate NZ / Winter Stks double – La Sizeranne ('06)

SUMMARY & SELECTIONS

The race in 2011 doesn't have the depth of last year in terms of absolute quality but that doesn't mean the winner won't be deserved.

Zero Rock should go forward bringing over Culminate with Montana Flyer and Steps In Time also looking for the front so the pace should be a cracker.

With that in mind you just have to side with Beaded. She is the bravest little thing.

She has never run a bad race and this race sets up much better than the Stradbroke for her as this was her main aim.

Back to her own sex and at set weights as well it all looks good as she would be giving away about 5kg in a handicap. With the draw as well now letting her position up front just off them, she can establish a margin in the straight and hold off the late runners.

But with that pace it should help one backmarker like Varenna Miss. Her lead up form has been excellent.

Importantly they didn't get sucked into running in the Stradbroke and as it turned out, the lack of manic speed in that may have meant she couldn't win anyway.

The barrier is of little consequence as she will be back some margin.

If there were a little roughie to place it might be Yosei. Her best is when she draws in, saves ground and gets late splits.

It is what happened in the 1000 Guineas and AJC Sires, admittedly both on tracks with some give so she might want a little rain.

Selection: (1) BEADED

Hardest to Beat: (2) VARENNA MISS

Best Roughie: (12) YOSEI