The field is set for Queensland’s biggest race with the 2024 Stradbroke Handicap taking centre stage at Eagle Farm Racecourse on Saturday.
Antino is one of the best fancied to claim Queensland racing’s biggest race, the 2024 Stradbroke Handicap, this weekend at Eagle Farm. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
A typically top-class line-up of winter hopefuls faces off in this weekend’s Group 1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) with the event slated as Race 8 at 3:57pm (AEST).
Tuesday evening’s Stradbroke Handicap barrier draw opened up the field with a host of the best fancied runners drawing wide.
Current top elect in Stradbroke Handicap betting at Ladbrokes.com.au is the Godolphin-raced Vilana at $5.
The James Cummings-trained Hallowed Crown five-year-old is on the quick back-up after his 3.67 length romp home at the track in last Saturday’s Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m).
The 1400m looks a non-issue based on his big winning margin.
Vilana drew barrier 14 in the Stradbroke field with Tim Clark coming aboard on 53kg as Cummings chases his second success in the event following a 2019 victory with Trekking.
The second favourite in the latest Stradbroke Handicap betting markets at $7.50 and the only other single-figure fancy is the local Tony Gollan-trained Antino.
The one-time favourite suffered an early blow with barrier 20 (16 with emergencies out) but presents fit third-up and ready to fire.
Vlad Duric retains the ride on the Brisbane-based Redwood gelding who has a stellar Eagle Farm track record (7:5-0-1) and plenty of form at the 1400m distance (5:3-0-1).
Saturday marks his third Group 1 assignment following on from his second to Attrition last October in Caulfield’s Toorak Handicap (1600m) and his lead-up sixth in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m).
He was over four lengths beaten in the Kingsford Smith Cup here at weight-for-age with 59kg behind I Wish I Win and will relish the weight relief down to 54.5kg in the Stradbroke.
Heading the Stradbroke weights this winter with 56kg is the Ciaron Maher-trained mare Bella Nipotina who has been the picture of consistence this prep.
Multiple Stradbroke Handicap winning jockey Craig Williams partners the $10 million earning daughter of Pride Of Dubai who won the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) two back.
She was narrowly denied back-to-back Brisbane Group 1 wins when going down by the barest margin in the Kingsford Smith Cup and ticks plenty of boxes at a nice $12 offering in the markets.
Other standouts in the mix include Grahame Begg’s Hellbent mare Magic Time ($11) who won Sydney’s Group 1 All Aged Stakes over this distance on a Heavy (10) back in April, runner-up in that same autumn feature Amenable ($11), and the in-form Benedetta ($11).
Benedetta was won of the big winners barrier-wise with the Jason Warren-trained mare drawing gate six.
She has won two of her past three runs and is out to extend her brilliance over further after a narrow but convincing Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) win at Morphettville on May 11.
Click here for the latest Stradbroke Handicap 2024 betting odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.
2024 Stradbroke Handicap Final Field & Barrier Draw
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | H Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15×4542412 | BELLA NIPOTINA | Ciaron Maher | Craig Williams | 21 | 56kg | 117 | ||
| 2 | x5131x6718 | MAGIC TIME | Grahame Begg | Michael Dee | 9 | 55.5kg | 115 | ||
| 3 | 1x41220x16 | ANTINO (NZ) | Tony Gollan | Vlad Duric | 20 | 54.5kg | 109 | ||
| 4 | 1134×44131 | BENEDETTA | Jason Warren | Daniel Stackhouse | 6 | 54kg | 112 | ||
| 5 | 151120x00x | CEPHEUS (GB) | Matthew Dunn | Tommy Berry | 15 | 54kg | 54.5kg | 108 | |
| 6 | x56830x261 | VILANA | James Cummings | Tim Clark | 14 | 53kg | 108 | ||
| 7 | 22057×3121 | HERE TO SHOCK (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Regan Bayliss | 1 | 53kg | 106 | ||
| 8 | 3x404x7340 | NUGGET (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Jason Collett | 10 | 53kg | 106 | ||
| 9 | 3x287524x7 | THE INEVITABLE | John Keys | Craig Newitt | 8 | 53kg | 106 | ||
| 10 | x1564x2922 | AMENABLE | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Chad Schofield | 16 | 53kg | 106 | ||
| 11 | 11x094x463 | PRINCE OF BOOM | Robert Heathcote | Tyler Schiller | 7 | 52.5kg | 105 | ||
| 12 | 1x573030x9 | OSIPENKO (NZ) | Chris Waller | Mark Du Plessis | 11 | 52.5kg | 105 | ||
| 13 | 15x516x014 | MIGHTY ULYSSES (GB) | Annabel Neasham | Damien Thornton | 18 | 52.5kg | 105 | ||
| 14 | 215x21123x | SEMANA | Ciaron Maher | Dylan Gibbons (a) | 22 | 52kg | 108 | ||
| 15 | 4x171x45x4 | DREAM HOUR | Kris Lees | Robbie Dolan | 3 | 51.5kg | 86 | ||
| 16 | 1x113x3x68 | STEPARTY | Paul Preusker | Dean Yendall | 4 | 50.5kg | 103 | ||
| 17 | 1x12342x53 | STEFI MAGNETICA | Bjorn Baker | Zac Lloyd (a) | 19 | 50kg | 105 | ||
| 18 | 2211×64771 | ROLL ON HIGH | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Will Price | 13 | 50kg | 98 | ||
| 19e | x24121x324 | FREEDOM RALLY | Tony Gollan | Tyler Schiller | 5 | 51.5kg | 104 | ||
| 20e | 122x20x251 | YELLOW BRICK | Tony & Maddysen Sears | Kyle Wilson-Taylor | 23 | 51.5kg | 104 | ||
| 21e | 243×562248 | STRAIT ACER | Edward Cummings | 17 | 51.5kg | 102 | |||
| 22e | 11333x0x10 | AUREUS ANGEL | Chris Munce | 2 | 51.5kg | 96 | |||
| 23e | x40619x620 | CIFRADO | Rex Lipp | 12 | 50kg | 94 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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