The greatest day in Queensland racing is upon as Eagle Farm and we have some fantastic fields lined up.
Our full 2022 Stradbroke Day Preview can be found below.
Preview brought to you by Ladbrokes. Learn more about Ladbrokes HERE.
Race 1 – Listed Oxlade Stakes (1300m)
Difficult way to start the day but I’m keen to see the Snowden colt Metallicity finally get a good track.
The son of Zoustar was a $340k yearling and is a half brother to catch Me who won the Gimcrack and Blue Diamond Preview for the fillies.
All three of his runs have been on a rain effected track including his third in the Group 3 Black Opal in Canberra back in March but he’s drawn well and is each way odds.
Race 2 – Listed The Wayne Wilson (1600m)
Kubrick is a classy individual who has amassed over $1 million in prize money over his career.
He finished two lengths off emerald Kingdom in The Archer and fourth last start at Listed level here at Eagle Farm.
The five year old gelding was held up at a crucial stage in his last outing but he picked back up and savaged the line late and he represents great each way value from a good draw in barrier three.
Race 3 – Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m)
Having finished well down the track on the heavy 10 in the Sydney Cup Sweet Thomas tackled the Gosford Cup where he showed a really good turn of foot late in the race.
The 10 year old was required to come across heels at a vital stage in the Premier’s Cup at the 100m but his closing sectionals were enormous and he has drawn to get a nice run in transit from barrier three.
The Fearless One has been racing consistently right throughout this prep and he was only narrowly denied in the Premier’s Cup at Eagle Farm last start.
It was a grinding performance as he gained momentum in the straight which suggests the step up to 3200m for the Brisbane Cup won’t be a problem.
Race 4 – Channel 7 Gunsynd Classic (1600m)
A lot of these three year olds come through the Fred Best Classic which is the form race ahead of the Gunsynd Classic in my opinion.
Nash Rawiller took a rails run with Kiss Sum in that race and if he hadn’t have been briefly held up, he would have won the race.
The son of Shamus Award has been runner up in his last three in a row and although he is unproven over 1600m, he should get a nice run in transit from barrier four which will help.
Race 5 – Listed Hinkler Handicap (1200m)
Ranch Hand proved he is an exciting young colt with a dominant two length win against his own age at Eagle Farm last time out.
He was well held together in a recent trial on the Gold Coast and he has drawn well in barrier five for this contest.
Blondeau proved he is not just a wet tracker with a huge run in the BRC Sprint last start on a good surface.
He showed a really good turn of foot and put together same quick late sectionals to be beaten 1.4 lengths.
Race 6 – Group 2 Q22 (2200m)
Having dropped out in the Sydney Cup connections of The Chosen One decided to head to Queensland and he was entitled to have just a run dropping back to 2100m in the Doomben Cup.
His closing sectionals were enormous late in that race and he looks an excellent each way bet in this year’s The Q22.
Maximal has just the one win from 12 career starts but is a horse with plenty of upside.
He was the run of the race outside of my top pick and the winkers have been added for the first time.
Race 7 – Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m)
It took him a while to pick up and get going but I loved the way Political Debate ran through the line to win The Phoenix last Saturday.
The son of So You Think is a very talented juvenile who will appreciate the step up to 1600m for the J.J. Atkins at this stage of his prep and he is the horse to beat.
Ringmaster is by boom sire Zoustar and out of a Snitzel mare and was excellent late to finish third in The Phoenix last start having had an interrupted run in the straight.
He opened a huge price and has been well backed in early betting but is still a small each way betting proposition.
Race 8 – Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m)
Isotope was an excellent run in the Kingsford-Smith Cup which is the key form guide for the Stradbroke Handicap this year in my opinion.
She finished a length and a half from the winner but her closing sectionals were good and she drops 4.5kgs into this.
Drawn perfectly in barrier four which is crucial as she it is unproven whether she can run a strong 1400m.
Eleven Eleven ticks a lot of boxes having narrowly missed in the Kingsford Smith Cup a fortnight ago.
He has three wins from six starts at the distance, an excellent record on the good surface and has drawn ideally in barrier four.
Race 9 – Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m)
The Dane Ripper Stakes shapes up as a very competitive race for the fillies and mares to close out the day.
Bring The Ransom had 10 weeks in between runs to take out the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic at Scone when producing a huge run on the fence to score by a length on the line.
She beat home Wandabaa in that race who finished second in the Group 2 Moreton Cup last weekend at Eagle Farm and she will be even better back on top of the ground (13: 5-1-1 on the good).
Enchanted Heart is another mar that comes up from Sydney on the back of a fourth in the At Sea Handicap at Randwick first up where she was beaten just over a length.
She had two nice trials leading into that fresh assignment and represents good each way value in the last as well.
