The final field for the 2018 Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben today remains intact with none of the five emergencies required.
Impending, above, is looking win back to back Stradbroke Handicaps at Doomben. Photo by Steve Hart.
Sixteen runners will do battle in the Stradbroke Handicap with the Doomben track rated a soft 7 except for the section from the 400m to the Winning Post which stewards have rated a heavy 8 with the rail in the true position for the entire course.
Racing Queensland tweeted the following statement.
“The track rating for Doomben today is Soft 7, Peno 5.9, Track Rated Heavy 8 from 400m to W/P, Rainfall: 24hrs 2mm, 7 days 22mm, Irrigation: Nil.”
The Bjorn Baker trained Champagne Cuddles is a winner on a heavy track and remains a solid favourite for the Stradbroke Handicap at $4.20 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Corey Brown has been given permission by Racing Queensland stewards to ride Champagne Cuddles 0.5kg over weight and the filly will now carry 50.5kg and the Melbourne Cup winning jockey will be able to give the Not A Single Doubt filly the run of the race from the inside barrier.
The James Cummings trained Impending will have to lump the top weight of 57.5kg and looking for back to back wins in the Stradbroke Handicap after carrying 52.5kg to victory last year.
Impending showed his liking for the 1350m at Doomben and was back in the winner’s circle last start in the Group 1 $700,000 Altus Traffic Kingsford-Smith Cup a fortnight ago.
Impending is on the second line of betting at $6.50 just ahead of last start all the way Fred Best Classic winner Perast at $7.
First emergency for the Group 1 $600,000 Channel Seven Queensland Derby (2200m) Captivator was promoted into the final field of sixteen following the early scratching of the Chris Waller trained Tangled but the remaining four emergencies were not required.
The Kerry Parker trained Dark Dream at $4.40 holds a slight advantage at the top of the Queensland Derby market order over the Darren Weir pair of Lucky For All at $4.50 and Heavenly Thought at $5.50.
The other Group 1 race on the eight event Stradbroke Handicap Race Day is the Group 1 $600,000 Jaguar Land Rover J.J. Atkins Plate (1600m) which is clear of scratchings.
Trainer Chris Waller will saddle up the $2.45 favourite The Autumn Sun while The Lindsay Park trained Fundamentalist has firmed shapely in the betting to be the second pick at $5.
