Two beatings from 2014 Stradbroke Handicap favourite Srikandi are enough for Perth trainer Simon Miller who will skip Queensland’s richest race with Platinum Rocker targeting the Tattersall’s Tiara instead.

Srikandi (pictured) has scared Perth mare Platinum Rocker away from a 2014 Stradbroke Handicap run. Photo: Daniel Costello.

Love A Dane six-year-old Platinum Rocker was one of the most notable non-acceptors when first declarations for the $1.36 million Group 1 AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) were taken by Racing Queensland yesterday.

The number of gallopers heading towards the Eagle Farm classic on June 7 was reduced down to 30, Ciaron Maher’s Dubawi filly Srikandi now officially in the mix after connections paid the hefty late entry.

“Srikandi is definitely in the field,” BRC racing manager Bart Sinclair confirmed.

She’s equal favourite in the futures Stradbroke Handicap odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $5.50 along with Sydney raider Rebel Dane.

Platinum Rocker meanwhile has been removed from the markets after Miller and owners decided to bypass a third clash with progressive three-year-old Srikandi.

She first came up against her when resuming off a five month spell in the Listed Silk Stocking (1200m) on the Gold Coast in Platinum Rocker’s first run since finishing second to Luckygray in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot in November.

The Perth visitor could only manage to finish three lengths away third in a result repeated in round two at Doomben last Saturday.

Srikandi was runaway winner of the Group 3 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m) in a run that confirmed her Stradbroke bid while Platinum Rocker was regulated to third again, this time two and a half lengths off.

Instead of suffering another likely loss at the hands of Srikandi in the Stradbroke Saturday week, Miller will instead run Platinum Rocker against her own kind only in the $200,000 Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m).

She’ll use that as a springboard to another Group 1 with the $500,000 Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) back at Eagle Farm on June 21 now her end of campaign major.

Platinum Rocker looks spot on for her next start too with former top jockey Alan Russell to give her a solid hit out at Eagle Farm today.

“She had a good blow after last Saturday and she will derive a lot from that run,” Miller told The West Australian yesterday.

“She has tightened up a couple of notches and will have a good hit-out in the morning.”

While the Stradbroke Handicap has been the key Tatt’s Tiara lead-up producing four of the past eight winners, the next best form to follow is that of the Dane Ripper.

Three Tattersall’s Tiara winners had their final lead-up in the Dane Ripper in the past 10 years with Russeting (2009), Yosei (2011) and the Chris Waller-trained Red Tracer who achieved the double this year.

Red Tracer is likely to target a Group 1 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival double this year though with Waller leaning towards the Stradbroke over the Dane Ripper before her Tattersall’s Tiara title defense.

Platinum Rocker is still likely to come up against another quality Waller mare in the Dane Ripper however as the Sydney horseman shoots for successive wins in the Stradbroke Handicap Day support race with Catkins.

Four-year-old Dubawi mare Catkins is still officially in Stradbroke calculations and markets paying $10, just longer than Red Tracer ($9), but is more likely to run in the Dane Ripper before taking on her dual Group 1 winning stablemate in the Tatt’s.

Official 2014 Tattersall’s Tiara nominations close on June 16 and will be published here at Races.com.au so stay tuned.

In the meantime get in on the carnival’s other Group 1 racing and betting markets online at Ladbrokes.com.au who pay their customers in CASH seconds after payout thanks to the Ladbrokes card!