The Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival culminates this Saturday at Eagle Farm with the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap headlining the nine-race program.
This year’s 1400m test is one of the most wide-open editions we’ve seen in quite some time, and there is a genuine case to be made for more than half the field.
Every race is of black-type, including the Group 1 JJ Atkins that sees the Godolphin-trained Broadsiding on track to start a very short favourite.
It’s the biggest race day on the Queensland calendar, and our thoughts on every race ahaed of Stradbroke Day can be found below!
Sticking with the Paul Preusker-trained Poison Chalice on top in a very open affair to kick off the program.
The four-year-old son of Savabeel flew home on return in the Listed Straight Six at Flemington last month, just missing out on a place despite clocking the sixth-fastest final 200m split of the meeting.
He was then taken back to last at Eagle Farm last start in a BM85 before making up a stack of ground down the outside to run third behind Sunset Soiree.
The step up from 1200m to the mile was a little on the sharp side for him that day, but fitter now and drawn a nice soft gate with Mark Zahra sticking, his turn of foot should see him fighting out the finish.
Pereille is a class four-year-old returning off a four-week break for Godolphin.
This son of Fastnet Rock hasn’t done much wrong since the start of the year, returning to the winner’s stall on the Sunshine Coast last month where he put away the likes of Swiss Exile and Midnight In Tokyo with relative ease.
The wide gate and a dry track are the two main knocks, but it’s hard to fault his recent trial win at Hawkesbury where he was seen making up late ground in a diving finish.
Looks likely to get back in the run under James McDonald and no surprise if he finishes over the top of most of these.
Competitive race between the two-year-olds, one that could see the Michael Freedman-trained Tehina take the next step.
The filly by Toronado was eye-catching last start at Canterbury, winning her maiden by 2.67 lengths after winding up nicely at the top of the straight to pull clear.
The form from that has been franked with runner-up Madrina going on to win her next start quite well, and there should be enough early speed to suit.
Mostly Cloudy gets another crack at adding some black-type to his resume in the Brisbane Cup.
The Busuttin and Young-trained five-year-old had some excuses last start in the Andrew Ramsden when beaten half a length by The Map after struggling to find clear air in the run home.
His previous effort over 3200m saw him beaten five lengths at Randwick from a very awkward draw, the only time he’s missed the money this prep in four starts.
Operating from a soft draw this time with some big relief at the weights, an effort similar to his latest run at Headquarters would see him go close on less of a turnaround.
Razors ticks a few important boxes here coming off a brief let-up for Godolphin.
The son of Sidestep had his run of placings snapped just under a month ago over much shorter at Doomben, settling midfield under Tim Clark where he was looking to shift out at the top of the straight before being forced back to the rail and never given much of a chance.
His previous form was solid, notably running third to Gringotts at Rosehill back in March, a gelding that has since gone on to win the Tamworth Cup and a Stakes race at Doomben.
Given a nice soft trial at Hawkesbury between starts, he deserves enormous respect with J-Mac booked to ride.
Broadsiding could add to a potentially huge day for Godolphin.
The colt by British Group 1 winner Too Darn Hot won the Champagne Stakes by three-quarters of a length to cap off his autumn prep, putting away the previously unbeaten Linebacker in brave style on a very wet day at Randwick.
He resumed off a let-up in fine style to win the Sires’ Produce, rounding up the field down the very outside to put his rivals away in arrogant fashion.
The runner-up Zouna may have finished closer that day if she wasn’t bumped at the top of the straight, but unbeaten over the mile with room for improvement on less of a turnaround, it’s tough to fault this boy in the JJ Atkins.
C’est Magique resumes for Chris Waller coming off a handy trial effort at Randwick where she showed some late speed.
The Zoustar mare hasn’t won in close to two years, but was around the mark during the autumn, notably running third to Semana – form that has held up with that mare going on to run a place in the Coolmore and Queen Of The Turf.
She goes well on the fresh side and likes to launch late, so the wide gate might suit with J-Mac engaged in the Dane Ripper Stakes field.
Stefi Magnetica looks well-placed third-up providing she can get some luck from the wide gate under Zac Lloyd.
Bjorn Baker’s resumed in the Doomben 10,000 last month where she dropped back to last and only got going over the final 200m to finish fifth in a good go for the line.
She finished in similar fashion back to Group 3 level in the Fred Best two weeks ago, looming along the inside on inferior ground where she just couldn’t hit top gear on her way to running third.
Fitter though and down 5kg at the weights, she should be launching late again if she can find cover.
Siding with Adelaide River at a nice price in the $1.2 million Q22.
I was with this boy on debut in the Lord Mayors Cup a fortnight ago where he finished down the order after pulling up with cardiac arrhythmia post-race.
His prior form overseas stacks up nicely for a bounce back effort though, highlighted by a runner-up effort in the Group 1 Grand Prix De Paris last July.
Looks better suited on dryer ground and racing over further is also a big plus.