Stradbroke Season kicks off at Eagle Farm this Saturday with a nine-race card on Queensland Guineas Day.
A genuine case could be made for several in the three-year-old feature, starting with last-start Group 3 winner Ducasse, fellow Sydney raider Kintyre, and local hope Press Link.
The Victory Stakes also shapes as an important leadup looking ahead to the Carnival, with several runners potentially setting their sights on the Doomben 10,000.
A huge day of racing awaits at Eagle Farm, and our best bets across Queensland Guineas Day can be found here!
Race 1 – 11:28AM STRADBROKE CALCUTTA 13 JUNE BENCHMARK 90 Handicap (1835 METRES)
Ostermeier has been working up to this trip nicely in his last few attempts.
The Sweeney-trained six-year-old was a winner three back over the mile, swooping in late to score narrowly with a good tempo set up front.
He should find the early speed to his liking here as he looks to improve on his latest effort when finishing down the order in last week’s Brisbane Mile from a very awkward draw.
Back a level from a much better barrier, there’s nothing to suggest he can’t win at a nice price.
Suggested Bet: No. 6 Ostermeier
Race 2 – 12:03PM XXXX BENCHMARK 78 Handicap (1600 METRES)
Rising Pacific can give this a shake if he’s afforded a well-timed sit just off the speed.
Tony Gollan’s four-year-old returned to work at Doomben just over a month ago where he got a long way back in the run before working home nicely through the gears.
The Kiwi import returned to the money at Eagle Farm out to the mile second-up, seen doing his best work late behind Iverson beaten just over three lengths.
The gate makes this tricky for Tommy Berry, but if he can settle handy and get across, he’ll be right in the thick of things.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Rising Pacific
Race 3 – 12:38PM SEVEN FILLIES & MARES BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (4YO only QTIS bonuses applicable) (1200 METRES)
Typhoon Taavi is in search of her hat-trick coming off another speedy win at Doomben three weeks ago where she put paid to her rivals by four lengths.
Tony Gollan’s mare has found a real purple patch of form since returning to work, progressing through the grades nicely thanks to the front-running tactics of Tahlia Fenlon.
This race isn’t much tougher on paper, providing the pair can offset the wide gate and find the lead.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Typhoon Taavi
Race 4 – 1:13PM MORETON HIRE BENCHMARK 85 Handicap (1400 METRES)
Evocator has been racing better than his last two runs have suggested.
By Divine Prophet, the five-year-old out of the Barry Lockwood yard has found himself a long way back in his last two starts, held up badly last week over the track and distance where he finished a length off In Evidence.
Returning to a dry track should aid his cause, while he’s also run some nice races over this trip previously. No stranger to racing on a quick backup, expect improvement.
Suggested Bet: No. 8 Evocator
Race 5 – 1:48PM BRC MEMBERS QTIS 3YO QUALITY (1300 METRES)
Weigall Tiger is always a threat first-up on his home track.
Kelly Schweida’s three-year-old continued his honest form earlier in the year, wrapping up his summer prep with a total forgive run in the 3YO Guineas on Magic Millions Day from a tricky gate.
He’s trialled nicely at Doomben in the leadup to his return and is likely to take up a forward position with Cejay Graham installed from an inside barrier.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Weigall Tiger
Race 6 – 2:23PM LADBROKES DALRELLO STAKES (1000 METRES)
Zouna hasn’t done much wrong in two starts for Lawrie Mayfield-Smith, winning on both occasions – the latest over Saturday’s rival Mishani Lily by a short half head.
The colt by Zousain was all class winning by a clear margin on debut in March, appreciating some cut out of the ground when drawing nearly 2.5 lengths clear in the end.
Adin Thompson holds the keys to his chances, and in a race that appears to hold plenty of early speed on paper, the slight relief at the weights should be a big plus when it matters most.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Zouna
Race 7 – 2:58PM THE STAR COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES BENCHMARK 78 HANDICAP (4YO only QTIS bonuses applicable) (1200 METRES)
Devastating can be a tricky horse to follow, but his best is certainly good enough to trouble a field of this quality.
Tony Gollan’s sprinter showed real improvement second-up a fortnight ago, rattling off some nice late splits to run second behind the in-form Hidden Wealth over shorter.
Dropping 2.5kg for the run and set to peak third-up, a well-timed ride from midfield would see him hard to hold out.
Suggested Bet: No. 9 Devastating
Race 8 – 3:33PM U&U RECRUITMENT VICTORY STAKES (1200 METRES)
It’s hard to pick against talented Group 1 Oakleigh Plate winner Uncommon James heading into his second start.
His effort last month in The Galaxy was only fair by his usual standards, but it was clear in the run home that the son of Cable Bay was lacking the fitness to match the likes of Zapateo and Sunshine In Paris in the run home.
Form-wise, his second-up record makes for very easy reading alongside an unbeaten record here on his home track.
Fitter and dropping back a level in terms of class, he should take a power of beating in the Victory Stakes 2024.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Uncommon James
Race 9 – 4:13PM SKY RACING QUEENSLAND GUINEAS (1600 METRES)
Press Link just timed his run too late in the Daybreak Lover a fortnight ago, enjoying a cozy run from midfield where he eventually peeled out wide and was a little flat at a crucial stage.
In saying that, he still showed plenty through the line to grab third, a big effort considering he was racing off a five-week gap and attempting 1400m for the first time.
Barrier 8 could see Michael Rodd adopt similar tactics to the ones that saw him get right back in the run two back and coming storming home down the centre of the track from a wide gate.
Potentially back on a firmer deck on less of a turnaround, Robert Heathcote’s three-year-old is worth sticking with in the Queensland Guineas 2024.
Suggested Bet: No. 11 Press Link