THANKS to good guesswork from trainer Chris Meagher, Queensland’s lone hope of snatching a Group 1 for the carnival, Savanna Amour, gets her chance in Saturday’s Tatt’s Tiara from a barrier that enhances her chances.

Meagher feels Savanna Amour is at the peak of her powers after winning on unfavourable ground on Stradbroke day and having trained on well since.

The trainer was in a good frame of mind at the conclusion of Wednesday’s draw, but a few moments earlier there was a 66 per cent chance he was set go home kicking the kerb.

Savanna Amour was the third last horse to be drawn and of the three numbers left on the table, the grenades of 17 and 21 were still there. But Meagher guessed right and plucked gate 1, paving the way for his stable star to deliver on the big stage this weekend.

“We wanted 1-7 so to get the inside gate, she can bounce and put herself there. I’m happy to be in there, rather than outside,” Meagher said.

Savanna Amour has tackled stakes races in 11 of her past 12 starts, winning five of them, but due to circumstances dating back more than a year, this will be her first Group 1 attempt.

After winning the Gold Coast Guineas, connections pulled the pin on last year’s carnival because the big sprints were scheduled to be run at Eagle Farm — a surface she had previously shown a distinct disliking for.

Then earlier this year, she had her Oakleigh Plate tilt derailed when she drew 19 of 20.

“She’s been building up to this for a while,” Meagher said. “She deserves to have a crack at it now. Coming in third up, fresh, it’s worked out great to this point.

“Her work (Wednesday) was great and we can’t fault her in any way.”

Savanna Amour is rated a $9.50 Tiara chance in the Ladbrokes market, with beaten Stradbroke favourite Champagne Cuddles the top pick at $5.50, just in front of Prompt Response ($6).

Queensland struck winter carnival Group 1 blanks in 2013 and 2015. Last year Capital Gain won the TJ Smith for Paul Butterworth and the year before Bryan Guy (Eagle Way) and Kelly Schweida (Miss Cover Girl) landed majors for the locals.