The Stradbroke Handicap meeting will be held at Eagle Farm this Saturday. The course proper was rated a Good 4 on Thursday and with showers forecast for Brisbane on Saturday, Eagle Farm should border on Good/Soft condition on raceday.
Prince Fawaz is ready to peak in the J.J. Atkins Plate (Brisbane Race 6, 1600m). The Anthony Cummings-trained colt started over the mile in his 2nd career start in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes, eventually finishing 5th behind Castelvecchio. Prince Fawaz is a lot more seasoned being 5th up on Saturday. And this Fastnet Rock 2YO put in a mighty effort last start at Randwick (1400m) having to switch across heels at 500m, then went the widest around the home turn and got another check at 400m and then charging over the top and took the lead at 50m, sprinting his last 400m in 22.40 seconds. Kerrin McEvoy will settle back and with pretty good pace in the race, Prince Fawaz will sprint strongly in the run home.
The Phillip Stokes-trained Mr Quickie has been in terrific form winning 3 times with 2 unlucky placings in his last 5 starts and he is going to be the horse to beat in the Queensland Derby (Brisbane Race 7, 2400m). He had passed his stamina’s test in the South Australian Derby (2500m) last start while finishing an unlucky 3rd. Mr Quickie was tightened at the start and dropped back to 3rd last (14th) and race jockey John Allen had to make a long sustained run out wide and it was a good effort to finish in the placings. John Allen will once again be on board the gelding and from the nice gate (5), Allen will settle a lot closer behind the leading bunch. Mr Quickie will avenge his SA Derby defeat by taking out the Queensland equivalent on Saturday.
Godolphin-owned Trekking is primed to take out the Stradbroke Handicap (Brisbane Race 8, 1400m). This 4YO gelding has been in good form this campaign winning the Hall Mark Stakes and the Luskin Star Stakes before his close 3rd behind the New Zealand horse The Bostonian in the Group 1 WFA Kingsford-Smith Cup. Under the handicap condition in the Stradbroke, Trekking receives a 3kg weight advantage from The Bostonian and that is enough for Trekking to turn the table on the kiwi horse. The in-form Kerrin McEvoy has the mount and he will settle somewhere mid-field and Trekking will be flying home in the straight.
By Owens Wong, Editor
