The official Eagle Farm scratchings have now been finalised for today’s big nine-race meeting and without an early withdrawal from the capacity 18-starter Stradbroke Handicap 2013 field the dream for a run in Queensland’s richest race is now officially over for the five emergencies.

Set to steal the show at 3:40pm (AEST) when running as Eagle Farm Race 8 today, this year’s Group 1 AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) has drawn one of its best fields in years with the first prize money boosted to a juicy $1 million for the first time.

Punters are now madly trying to go over the Stradbroke Handicap field and form and pick out the winning chances with the bookmaker.com.au markets led by Anthony Cummings’ BTC Cup winner Your Song ($4.80).

The three-year-olds are dominating the betting too with three of the other four single figure chances all being for this current gun crop including Queensland Guineas winner Sizzling ($6.50), last start Doomben 10,000 champion Epaulette ($7) and nicely weighted local Better Than Ready ($9).

Sandwiched amongst those is then the only other runner under $10 with the Rob Heathcote-trained Mossman five-year-old Buffering ($8) out to finally break his Group 1 hoodoo today.

With so many live wire chances and a nice Dead (4) track looking the trick for the clash it can be tough going determining which horse to have your money on today.

For punters that like their facts and statistical bets then the Stradbroke Handicap barrier draw is often a good one to look at.

Earlier in the week it was hard to know exactly which horses were to line up from which gate with the five emergencies sweating on a start.

Now that they have been taken out of the picture however barriers 1 – 18 have been officially allocated and are listed below.

Some key Stradbroke Handicap barrier facts and stats to now consider when placing your bets on the big one in Brisbane today are:

Barrier 5 (#11 Hot Snitzel $51) – Last year’s winning gate Mid Summer Music jumped from

Barrier 18 (#5 My Quest For Peace $61) – Most successful barrier in the past 30 years producing four winners, most recently La Montagna (2006)

Next Most Successful Barriers with 3 Winners:

• Barrier 3 (#15 Fontelina $15)
• Barrier 4 (#1 Buffering $8)
• Barrier 6 (#16 Spirit Song $51)
• Barrier 12 (#14 Famous Seamus $71)

Barrier 12 (#14 Famous Seamus) – Most successful barrier in the past 10 years producing two winners with Black Piranha (2009) and before that Sniper’s Bullet (2007)

Barriers That Haven’t Produced a Stradbroke Handicap Winner (since 1983):

• Barrier 2 (#13 Belltone $18)
• Barrier 13 (#3 Solzhenitsyn $18)
• Barrier 15 (#17 Better Than Ready $9)
• Barrier 16 (#6 Linton $31)

Don’t forget to check out our exclusive 2013 Stradbroke Handicap Barrier Draw post too for more information on the best gates to be in to win today’s race looking back over the past 30 years as well as which barriers come with a hoodoo for their runners to overcome.

Ready to place your bets on the Eagle Farm races today? Head straight to our preferred online bookie bookmaker.com.au who are not only offering the best Fixed Win odds on all the races but also have an exclusive money back special running on the Stradbroke.

If you back a horse to win the Straddie but they run second or third to a Queensland-trained horse such as perennial Group 1 placegetter Buffering, then you’ll get your stakes refunded up to $100! See the full and conditions now to get in on this offer!

2013 Stradbroke Handicap Barrier Draw Post-Scratchings

Eagle Farm Race 8 (3:40pm) – 08/06/2013

#1 Buffering (4)

#2 Epaulette (17)

#3 Solzhenitsyn (13)

#4 Streama (11)

#5 My Quest For Peace (18)

#6 Linton (16)

#7 Decision Time (9)

#8 Your Song (8)

#9 Spirit Of Boom (1)

#10 Happy Zero (10)

#11 Hot Snitzel (5)

#12 Yosei (7)

#13 Belltone (2)

#14 Famous Seamus (12)

#15 Fontelina (3)

#16 Spirit Song (6)

#17 Better Than Ready (15)

#18 Sizzling (14)