The final Group I race of the season went the way of Written Tycoon's Tycoon Tara who led every step of the way under Kerrin Mc Evoy in Saturday's $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall's Tiara (1350m) at Doomben.
It was McEvoy's ninth winner at the highest level this season, second only to Hugh Bowman.
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Tycoon Tara's form had tailed off from earlier in the season when she won the Group II Missile Stakes and Group II Golden Pendent. (photo Lisa Grimm)
The 6yo mare has failed to place in her past four starts and she looked to be marking time to retirement in the spring.
At her top she was the class runner of the race and fans that stuck solid were rewarded with a price of 20/1.
McEvoy was gifted the lead and was not pressured throughout the run. The daughter of Written Tycoon still had plenty to offer when the consistent 3yo filly Prompt Return staked a claim.
But the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained daughter of Beneteau could get no closer than a long-head at the finish with the favourite In Her Time (Time Thief) a courageous third, three-quarter of a length back after a troubled run.
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"I'm really glad we pushed on because at one stage I was prepared to pull the pin on her, I was worried she didn't want to compete anymore," Peter Snowden said.
"But I saw her last week and I thought it was the best she had looked in a long time."
Bred and part-owned by Tony Krushka, Tycoon Tara is the third of four foals left by the 4-time Melbourne winning Encores mare Mosstara before her death in November 2014.
Her granddam Finest Star is a half-sister to the dam of King's Stand Stakes winner Godswalk (IRE).
Tycoon Tara has been the standout performer for Written Tycoon this season.
The Woodside Park-based stallion will stand at a fee of $88,000 this spring.
