2018 Stradbroke Handicap Day Preview & Tips

Fifteen sprinters will step out in the first and there’s plenty of value to be taken from a betting perspective. The Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Missile Coda carries winning form into the race and is the $5.50 favourite at the time of publish. Missile Coda has typically been a pretty strong performer through her short racing career and absolutely dominated a good field at Rosehill last time out before finding the line two lengths in the clear of her closest rivals. She’s drawn ideally in barrier 3 and will be tough to run down with only 52.5kgs in tow. A horse that appeals at odds in this race is the John O’Shea-trained Kuro, who will be rock-hard fit for his third-up assignment. The Denman gelding resumed for a credible third in the Listed Gold Rush before placing fourth in the Listed Ortensia Stakes last time out. He’ll take a position on pace and will give them something to chase. I’ll be having a small bet on Kuro at each-way odds, but without a lot of confidence.

An open field of milers will step out in this year’s Wayne Wilson and there is a case to be made for more than half the pack. Ulmann is the $5.50 race favourite at the time of publish and while he has the class to win a race like this, he is yet to show his best this time and faces another tough time amongst decent company. Japanese import A Shin Rook is ready to peak third-up here and looks over the odds at her $8 quote. The Heart’s Cry mare made light work of a field over 1400m first-up at the Sunshine Coast before running well for fourth in the Listed Spear Chief Quality last time out. A  step up to a mile is ideal and she has plenty of options from the rails draw.

An open edition of the Queensland Guineas will see fourteen three-year-olds step onto the mile course and there is plenty of value from a betting perspective. The Darren Weir-trained Peaceful State ($4.20) has found outstanding form this time and will be extremely difficult to beat under the conditions of this race. The Animal Kingdom colt ran second in the Group 1 Australia Guineas over this trip in March and while he failed to fire in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas, has since won both the Listed Nitschke Stakes (1400m) and Listed Adelaide Guineas. He’s trialled well in the lead-up to this race and he has a class edge over most of his rivals here. Another horse that looks over the odds at his current price is Assimilate ($6), who was unlucky not to return to winning form in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic a fortnight ago. The son of Sebring has only had one start at a mile previously, but he’ll relish the step up in trip after settling towards the tail of this field.

A smart field of stayers has been taken for the Brisbane Cup and Japanese import Ambitious ($3.50) is the early race favourite. Ambitious ran second in the Group 1 The BMW most notably in autumn and arrived in Brisbane for a credible third in the Group 1 Doomben Cup. He steps back up to a more appropriate trip here and should be tough to hold out. A horse worth consideration at each-way odds is the Darren Weir-trained Kiwia ($8). Kiwia has been pretty inconsistent this time, but worked home well in less than favourable conditions in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup over this course a fortnight ago and is drawn to get a dream run for barrier 4. He takes a five-and-a-half kilo weight pull from Ambitious and can atone here.

The Stradbroke Handicap has drawn an outstanding field this year and there is plenty of value to be taken, particularly in the lucrative Fat Odds market. Three-year-old Champagne Cuddles has been a strong and consistent performer right the way through her racing career so far and has continued to receive plenty of support in Stradbroke Handicap betting this week; firming into $5.50 favouritism (Fat Odds). Unlucky to finish second in both the Group 1 Golden Rose and Group 1 Flight Stakes in spring, the Not A Single Doubt filly ran third in the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup over this course and distance a fortnight ago and will carry only 50kgs from the rails draw. Defending champion Impending ($6) has been charged with carrying a race-high 57.5kgs, but posted his second win at the highest level through an outstanding performance here a fortnight ago and has a class edge over his rivals. The son of Lonhro can take a sit behind the pace form barrier 9 before calling on his slick turn of foot in the straight. Santa Ana Lane won The Goodwood last time out and looks to be a forgotten runner in this field at $19. The Lope De Vega gelding is also a Group 1 winner at 1400m and he could enjoy the run of the race on Saturday from gate 3. There is a case to be made for nearly every running in this field and I am happy to play the value. I’ll be having a small each-way bet on Santa Ana Lane, as a result. CLICK HERE for full 2018 Stradbroke Handicap odds & betting update

A decent crop of two-year-olds will contest the JJ Atkins and leading trainer Chris Waller holds an extremely strong hand in The Autumn Sun ($2.50), Lean Mean Machine ($4.70) and Zousain ($7.50). The Autumn Sun will make his black type debut in this race, but he’s absolutely dominated who two starts to date and continue his unbeaten streak through the JJ Atkins. The Redoute’s Choice colt is drawn ideally in gate 6 and will be ridden by leading hoop Kerrin McEvoy. Lean Mean Machine will carry winning form into this race after taking out the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes a fortnight ago and he will be tough to hold out. The son of Zoustar has been a strong performer amongst quality company throughout his entire preparation and will look to finish over the top of his rivals from a wide draw on Saturday. Zousain ran well for second in the Sires’ Produce two weeks ago and looks to be the value in this field. Following a few decent runs in Sydney, he arrived in Brisbane for a dominant win in the Group 2 Champagne Classic and looks like he’ll appreciate the increase in trip on Saturday. I’m confident that the winner will come from one of these three horses, but Lean Mean Machine looks as a tough as nails and can get the job done. CLICK HERE for full 2018 JJ Atkins odds & betting update

There’s several live chances in the Queensland Derby field, including Dark Dream ($5.50). Dark Dream has been in outstanding form this time in and finished a close second in the Listed South Pacific Classic on Day 2 of The Championships before running second in the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic, winning the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate and placing third in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes most-recently. His price in betting looks to be a slight overreaction to him missing as an odds-on favourite last time out and he can be forgiven for that run, given he cast a plate. Youngstar ($7) is the field’s sole filly and she is a live chance of securing her second Group 1 title here. The daughter of High Chaparral was outstanding when winning the Group 2 The Roses two starts back, before completing a perfectly-timed sprint to win the Queensland Oaks a fortnight ago, over this course and distance. She’s treated well at the weights as a filly and will be right in the finish at a great price. I will be back both of these horses each way. CLICK HERE for full 2018 Queensland Derby odds & betting update

The final race of the day has drawn an open field of fillies and mares and will shape the market for the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara in a fortnight. Moss Trip is seeking a third-consecutive race win and remains the $4.40 favourite in Dane Ripper betting, despite drifting. The Mossman filly ran a credible fifth in the Group 1 Surround Stakes in autumn and has been kept to light duties since; winning both the Group 3 JB Carr Stakes and the Scone Guineas. She’s trialled well in the lead-up to this race but will need plenty of luck from an awkward draw. Pedrena ($8) beat a lot of these horses in the Group 3 Glenlogan Park Stakes a fortnight ago and will be rock-hard fit for her third-up assignment here. The Mossman mare will also need luck from a potentially sticky draw, but there is no reason why she can’t be fighting out the finish again.