Waller and Cummings in race to crown record seasons with Tiara

The biggest stables in the country will go head to head for a piece of group 1 history when Chris Waller and Godolphin’s James Cummings supply half the field for the Tatts Tiara at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The final group 1 of the season gives Waller a last opportunity to take the record for most group 1s in a season. His current total is 17, level with number the late TJ Smith posted in the 1979/80 season.

He could have up to six runners in the Tiara, led by Dane Ripper Stakes winner Invincibella and backed up  with third and fourth placegetters from that race, Prompt Response and Noire.

Waller’s other likely runners are Egg Tart, which will head to Brisbane first-up after an impressive trial,  recent stable acquisition Eckstein, and Madame Rouge.

“We have a strong team coming from several difference form angles,” Waller said. “It is a tough race to win though.”

If one of his six can win the Tiara, it will give Waller a record 18th group 1 for the term and cap a remarkable year, which is likely to be the pinnacle of his career.  His haul includes  seven group 1s with the once-in-a-lifetime mare Winx and   four with colt The Autumn Sun.

Cummings has already set a record for Godolphin or Darley when Trekking gave him  his eighth group 1 winner for the season in Stradbroke but has a great chance to add to it in the Tiara.

The Godolphin blue dominates the top of betting with three-year-old Pohutukawa and Savatiano equal $5.50 favourites and emerging mare Multaja on the third line of betting at $11.