The Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap will be run at Eagle Farm racecourse today in which three year old Srikandi heads betting as the favourite in the market slightly ahead of South Australian galloper Hucklebuck. The best supported runner in betting has arguably been the Darley runner Knoydart who continues to shorten at every turn. View the Stradbroke Handicap Field, Odds and Tips for the race.
1. Spirit Of Boom Preview:
He deservedly won the G1 Doomben 10,000 last start after running close seconds in both the G2 Victory Stakes and G1 BTC Cup. His last start win made it thirteen consecutive top four finishes – all at G1 or G2 level, including finishing fourth (1.1 lengths) in this race last year carrying 54kgs. Will have the job in front of him with the top weight under handicap conditions but his form is outstanding and cannot be dismissed.
Trainer: T J Gollan
Jockey: M Rodd
Breeding: Sequalo x Temple Spirit
Prize money earned: $2,372,900
Form at 1400m: 5:1-0-0
Stradbroke Handicap barrier: 6
Weight to be carried: 58kg
2. Rebel Dane Preview:
Ran a terrific second to superstar sprinter Lankan Rupee first up in the G1 TJ Smith (1200m) on a heavy track but was flattened by that run a fortnight later when, as the short-priced favourite, he finished a disappointing fifth (3.3 lengths) in the All Aged Stakes (1400m). Given a freshen up after that run, punters again stuck with him in the G1 Doomben 10,000 and he finished well from the tail of the field in a race dominated by those closer to the speed and fence, to finish fourth (3/4 length) behind Spirit Of Boom. That run and a genuine tempo here suit and if he can navigate some sort of path from his horror draw, should be right in the mix.
Trainer: G Portelli
Jockey: T Berry
Breeding: California Dane x Texarcana
Prize money earned: $1,242,630
Form at 1400m: 4:2-1-0
Stradbroke Handicap barrier: 22
Weight to be carried: 56.5kg
3. Famous Seamus Preview:
More was expected from him in his three runs immediately following an excellent first up third in the G2 Challenge Stakes but two starts back, in the G1 BTC Cup, the 5yo gelding showed his true ability, letting down well from midfield to record a half length win over Spirit Of Boom. He had no luck in his next and most recent outing, the Doomben 10,000, where he missed a run at the top of the straight and again shortly thereafter, finishing ninth (4.1 lengths). Dismiss that last start and meets Spirit of Boom 2.5kgs better. Drawn well in ten and a genuine chance at double figure odds.
Trainer: N Mayfield-Smith
Jockey: R Wiggins
Breeding: Elusive City x Clinique
Prize money earned: $776,800
Form at 1400m: 4:0-1-1
Stradbroke Handicap barrier: 10
Weight to be carried: 56kg
4. Red Tracer Preview:
As expected, too good for her own sex first up last prep winning the G2 Millie Fox comfortably before, despite starting favourite on each occasion, finding a few too good in the G1 Canterbury Classic (3rd), George Ryder (10th) and at her most recent start back in April, the Queen Of The Turf (3rd). Has had two winning trials over the past month in readiness for this race and whilst it will be a feat by both horse and trainer to take this out at her first run in seven weeks, she has the ability to do it – especially if there’s a bit of rain.
Trainer: C J Waller
Jockey: N Rawiller
Breeding: Dane Shadow x Kisma
Prize money earned: $2,371,010
Form at 1400m: 9:5-2-1
Stradbroke Handicap barrier: 16
Weight to be carried: 56kg
5. Temple Of Boom Preview:
A return to Queensland and to drier tracks, as seen this 7yo produce some of his best results over the past month. He unexpectedly won the G2 Victory Stakes as a 40/1 shot three starts ago before proving it no fluke but running a credible fourth to Famous Seamus in the BTC Cup and making his younger sibling and stable-mate Spirit Of Boom, earn his head victory when second in the 10,000 a fortnight ago. Has enjoyed sweet runs in each of those races and whilst he drops to handicap conditions here which is a plus, the wide draw will see him working for the majority of the race.
Trainer: T J Gollan
Jockey: T Harrison
Breeding: Piccolo x Temple Spirit
Prize money earned: $1,568,745
Form at 1400m: Untried at this distance
Stradbroke Handicap barrier: 18
Weight to be carried: 56kg
6. Smokin’ Joey Preview:
This 6yo has proved very hard for punters to catch, with his last two victories both being recorded as a 40/1 shot. Once of those wins was his most recent start, the G1 Goodwood Handicap where, under 56kgs and on a slow track, he finished strongly from the tai of the field to defeat in-from mare Platelet by half a length. Quoted $17.00 for Saturday’s race but likely to get back and will need plenty of luck from gate 3.
Trainer: Wez Hunter
Jockey: B Melham
Breeding: Encosta De Lago x Dalzing
Prize money earned: $1,012,533
Form at 1400m: 15:4-1-1
Stradbroke Handicap barrier: 3
Weight to be carried: 55.5kg
7. River Lad Preview:
The ultra consistent son of Top Echelon recorded his twelfth and first Group win last start with a head victory in the BRC Sprint (1350m) defeating Benny’s Buttons. From gate 10 in the field of 13, he shot across to lead and toughed out the finish well. Drops 2.5kgs on that win but has drawn poorly out in gate 19 and if he is to repeat the pattern of last start, could be vulnerable after early work.
Trainer: Natalie McCall
Jockey: D Oliver
Breeding: Top Echelon x Ikeymo
Prize money earned: $742,500
Form at 1400m: 3:1-1-0
Stradbroke Handicap barrier: 19
Weight to be carried: 55kg
8. Conservatorium Preview:
Put together a sensational campaign this time last year that included narrow seconds in both the G1 Goodwood and G2 QTC Cup before a deserved win in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes but, from four starts this preparation, has struggled to repeat those efforts. In each of those runs though, all at Group level, he has been assigned at least 57kgs or higher so the return to 54kgs and the inside draw should see a marked improvement but from his current performance level, still not enough to be winning here.
Trainer: G D Kennewell
Jockey: J Bowditch
Breeding: Royal Academy x Belong To Madam
Prize money earned: $779,200
Form at 1400m: 6:2-1-1
Stradbroke Handicap barrier:
Weight to be carried: 54kg
9. Sacred Star Preview:
The Flying Spur 4yo capped off a memorable day for Tim Bell last week when he was successful in the QTC Cup (1300m). He settled in a great spot and always had the leaders in his sight up the straight before finishing too well and holding of Masthead’s challenge to win by a head. That was the New Zealander’s first run in Australian and first hit-out for fourteen weeks. He’ll strip fitter and boast an impressive record back in NZ which includes a head second in the G1 NRM Sprint (1400m). Unfortunately though, he has a bad barrier to contend with here and in races such as this, everything has to go right.
Trainer: A W Pike
Jockey: T Bell
Breeding: Flying Spur x Irish Nova
Prize money earned: $299,483
Form at 1400m: 3:1-1-0
Stradbroke Handicap barrier: 20
Weight to be carried: 53kg
10. Knoydart Preview:
Returned as a gelding last campaign and blossomed, winning his first three runs back, including the Listed Canterbury Classic and Hareeba Stakes before finishing third in both the G1 Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap behind Lankan Rupee and Spirit Of Boom on both occasions. Came back to racing as the hot favourite in the G3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) and loomed up ominously topping the Randwick rise but couldn’t reel in Hot Snitzel on the slow track, finishing second by 1 ¼ lengths. His next and most recent start saw him come from near last and as the widest runner in the Doomben 10,000 to run fifth (1.8 lengths) behind Spirit Of Boom. Laid in up the straight last start and his mind not being on the job as prove costly the last couple but, a drop to 53.5kgs here is massive and his spring form top shelf.
Trainer: J A O’Shea
Jockey: K Mcevoy
Breeding: More Than Ready x Regal Cheer
Prize money earned: $524,180
Form at 1400m: 3:0-0-2
Stradbroke Handicap barrier: 14
Weight to be carried: 53.5kg
11. Belltone Preview:
Kicked off his campaign with a good fourth (1.8 lengths) in the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup on the Gold Coast to Dances On Stars before tackling the G2 QTC Cup last week. Settled on the pace in the QTC Up but weakened from the turn and finished second to last, five lengths from the winner Sacred Star. Has been assigned big weights both runs back so the 53.5kgs and good draw here will be welcomed but likely to be accounted for at this level.
Trainer: K C Wood
Jockey: E Wilkinson
Breeding: Brahms x Belle Salieri
Prize money earned: $578,550
Form at 1400m: 10:2-3-2
Stradbroke Handicap barrier: 4
Weight to be carried: 53.5kg
12. Velrosso Preview:
As he always does, the General Nediym gelding was doing his best work last when fifth (1.4 lengths) behind Mighty Lucky first up on the Listed Luskin Star at Scone three weeks ago. That was only his second attempt at a Listed race so faces a big step up here in terms of class and the barrier will make the challenge any easier to meet.
Trainer: C J Waller
Jockey: L Cassidy
Breeding: General Nediym x Hootenanny
Prize money earned: $528,085
Form at 1400m: 5:1-0-0
Stradbroke Handicap barrier: 21
Weight to be carried: 52.5kg
13. Emblems Preview:
Just held his ground on the slow track first up in the G3 Hall Marks Stakes back in April when fifth (3 ¾ lengths) behind Hot Snitzel and Knoydart before starting the 5/4 favourite in the Listed Luskin Star at Scone three weeks ago. From the inside gate he held a forward position but found Mighty Lucky and Haussmann a shade too strong late over the 1300m journey, finishing third (1/2 length). First go at a Group race and to be considered a chance of winning, had to be winning last start in good style.
Trainer: J A O’Shea
Jockey: C Schofield
Breeding: Shamardal x Cara Bella
Prize money earned: $317,230
Form at 1400m: 1:0-0-0
Stradbroke Handicap barrier: 8
Weight to be carried: 52.5kg
14. Reparations Preview:
After several consistent runs in Stakes races at the start of the year, including a second to Messene in the Listed National Sprint (1400m) at Canberra, the 5yo by Exceed And Excel returned from a brief break with a deserved win in the Listed T’bred Cup (1440m) at Caulfield. Finishing strongly from midfield, the Anthony Freedman trained galloper bettered Loot’n’Run by a long neck on the line. He had a solid hit-out just over a week ago when winning a Doomben Trail by 3 ¼ lengths. Going well and represents a light-weight chance at big odds.
Trainer: Anthony Freedman
Jockey: D Moor
Breeding: Exceed And Excel x Hold To Ransom
Prize money earned: $316,176
Form at 1400m: 11:3-1-1
Stradbroke Handicap barrier: 13
Weight to be carried: 52.5kg
15. Lucky Hussler Preview:
Last week’s eleventh of thirteen in the QTC Cup, where he failed to make an impression from the second half of the field, followed a poor effort in the G3 BRC Sprint where as 15/4 favourite, he finished in a similar position. That has seen the Husson 4yo, who showed great potential as a 3yo last year during this carnival, fail to finish in the top ten at each of his last four starts. Not the form you want to be carrying into a G1 race.
Trainer: Kent Fleming
Jockey: Jason Taylor
Breeding: Husson x Talaq Dancer
Prize money earned: $329,050
Form at 1400m: 4:0-0-1
Stradbroke Handicap barrier: 11
Weight to be carried: 52.5kg
16. Scorpio Queen Preview:
New Trainer Kris Lees is going to throw this 5yo mare by Choisir into the deep end first up off a nine week break. She travelled to Sydney to contest some of the good fillies and mare races but found at least a few too good for her on each occasion. She looks well out of her depth on those efforts in this race.
Trainer: K A Lees
Jockey: J Byrne
Breeding: Choisir x Lyford
Prize money earned: $330,550
Form at 1400m: 5:0-1-0
Stradbroke Handicap barrier: 12
Weight to be carried: 52.5kg
17. Srikandi Preview:
Made it five straight wins and continues to impress with a comfortable 1 ¼ length win in the G3 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m), a race for fillies and mares, a fortnight ago. The daughter of Dubawi shot straight to the lead and gave none of her thirteen competitors a chance and was eased down on the line. She carried 57kgs last start and drops to a featherweight of 51kgs for Saturday’s race where she’ll push forward again despite gate 17. Ready for to take on the top grade on her recent efforts and will give them plenty to catch.
Trainer: C Maher
Jockey: G Boss
Breeding: Dubawi x Raining
Prize money earned: $315,900
Form at 1400m: Untried at this distance
Stradbroke Handicap barrier: 17
Weight to be carried: 51kg
18. Hucklebuck Preview:
Started favourite in the Australian Guineas (1600m) but never looked a genuine threat before finishing eighth (2.6 lengths) behind Shamus Award. Given a break of nine weeks after that run, he returned to racing in the G3 Fred Best Classic (1350m) at Doomben where he took up the lead position. Fitness levels and a sweet run to the winner Havana, saw him finish fourth (1.4 lengths). Will strip fitter for that run and whilst still not proven at the elite level, the 51kgs make it possible for him to run a bold race here, as does the inside draw.
Trainer: P Stokes
Jockey: D Tourneur
Breeding: Elvstroem x Kondari
Prize money earned: $300,200
Form at 1400m: 2:2-0-0
Stradbroke Handicap barrier: 1
Weight to be carried: 51kg
19. Masthead – SCRATCHED
20. Into The Red – SCRATCHED
21. Havana – SCRATCHED
22. Belle De Coeur – SCRATCHED
23. Scream Machine – SCRATCHED
Stradbroke Handicap 2014 odds comparison
