Ballistic Boy couldn’t have been more impressive in the Gunsynd Classic without winning and the Rough Habit Plate looks the perfect race for him.
The three-year-old son of Smart Missile has been a strong and consistent performer for Chris Anderson this time in and won at the Sunshine Coast three back, progressing to a third placing in the Listed Daybreak Lover before his close-up second to Supergiant a couple of weeks ago.
He is rock-hard fit and the rise in trip looks as though it will suit.
This is a typically wide-open edition of the Stradbroke Handicap and I have landed on a runner at a big price – Outback Barbie is displaying odds of $34 at publish.
The Spirit Of Boom mare has been a strong and consistent performer throughout her entire career and ended her last prep with a lovely win at the Magic Millions.
So far this time, she’s filled the minors of the BRC Sprint and absolutely flown home to finish fourth in the Group 2 Victory Stakes last time.
While she typically hasn’t raced as well at Eagle Farm as she has at Doomben, I think she’ll have plenty in her favour today and getting back to the 1400m is going to be ideal.
Aquitaine harbours the most upside of any leading contender in the Mick Dittman Plate and I’m happy to be with her.
The Exceed And Excel filly has so far recorded three wins and four minors from only eight career starts, and resumed a few weeks ago to finish second behind a smart one in Fituese in the Listed Denise’s Joy in Sydney.
That form is superior to anything else here and she’s drawn to receive a lovely run from an inside barrier.
Opacity has been enormous during the early stages of his racing career and I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish of the last at Randwick today.
The John O’Shea-trained gelding has so-far recorded four wins and a close-up second placing from only six starts, and he was last seen beating a classy field to the line over 1500m here at Randwick.
He’ll have to carry topweight, but he has a class edge over most of these rivals and can make it two in a row.