The uncertainty over the availability of Melbourne-based riders for the Stradbroke Handicap has led to Craig Williams being booked for Tofane in the Group 1 race at Eagle Farm.

With the Queensland border closed to Victorian residents following the COVID outbreak, Mike Moroney said Williams was keen to take the ride on the mare in the $1.5 million 1400m handicap at Eagle Farm on June 12.

Williams will ride Tofane for the first time after the mare finished second in the BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben on May 22.

“He was keen to ride but we wanted to see what Jamie Kah was doing first,” Moroney said.

“Craig has stayed up there, so from the time that happened, we grabbed him pretty quick as we had doubts about the ones we were considering being able to make it there.”

A kidney complaint delayed Tofane’s autumn return with the mare running seventh in the Sapphire Stakes at Randwick in April before making her way to Brisbane for the BRC Sprint.

Moroney said Tofane had taken benefit from the BRC Sprint and would appreciate the roomier track at Eagle Farm.

“I haven’t had to do any fast work with her yet, she’ll start doing that on Thursday,” Moroney said.

“You could tell she had a run the day after, but by Tuesday morning she had got over it.”

Moroney said Hang Man would progress to the Group 2 Q22 (2200m) on Stradbroke day.

Hang Man has had two runs in Brisbane this campaign, finishing a last start seventh in the Group 3 Lord Mayors Cup (1800m) on Saturday.

“He had to make up too much ground the other day,” Moroney said.

“He got too far off them, but he only got beaten three lengths after being at one stage 15 (lengths) off them.

“The Q22 will be his last run this campaign, all going well.”

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au