The big Stradbroke Handicap-Queensland Derby meeting will be held at Eagle Farm this Saturday. The track was rated a Dead 5 on Thursday and with possible showers in the next few days, the track could end up in the Dead/Slow range on raceday.
Sydney racing will be back to Randwick this Saturday. The track was rated a Slow 6 on Thursday and with fine weather forecast, the track is likely to be in the Dead range on raceday.
In the Hampden Stakes (Brisbane Race 1, 1200m), the filly Miss Longstocking looks a strong winning chance. Two starts ago, she just pipped Hallside Rose in the Lancaster Stakes and she was outclassed by Zoustar last start in the BRC Sires Produce Stakes over 1350m. Down in class and back to 1200m suits her. At set weight, she looks to open the meeting as a winner.
In the XXXX Gold Strawberry Road Hcp (Brisbane Race 2, 1600m), Transporter is a deserved favourite having won 4 times and placed further 3 times over the mile. But Diademe also has a comparable record over the mile having won and placed 6 times from 7 starts. Trainer Murray Baker has reported that Diademe has trained on well since her last start 3rd in the Glenlogan Park Stakes. The 4YO mare also has a good record on Dead/Slow tracks. Currently at $6.00 fixed odds, Diademe looks a good value bet.
In the first Group 1 of the meeting, the Queensland Derby (Brisbane Race 7, 2400m) will be fought out by the two best colts in the race, Survived and Hawkspur. The New Zealander Survived simply couldn’t make up ground on the wet track in the Rough Habit Plate. He was a winner over 2200m in NZ before he came over to Queensland so the Derby distance shouldn’t worry him. The horse that beat him in the Rough Habit, Hawkspur, has been in terrific form. He has won the Rough Habit Plate and the Grand Prix Stakes in his past two starts. He has good record on Dead/Slow tracks. And from barrier 5 (into barrier 3 after scratching), Jimmy Cassidy will drive him up towards the lead. Hawkspur could prove hard to catch in the Derby.
In the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (Brisbane Race 8, 1400m), most of the favourite horses have drawn wide hence I believe the Anthony Cummings-trained Your Song could win the Stradbroke. Two starts ago, Your Song was annihilating a similar field in the QTC Cup on a Heavy track. And last start in the Doomben 10,000, Hugh Bowman was surprisingly ridden a very aggressive race from a wide gate, taking Your Song to sit outside Buffering in a suicidal pace upfront. The 3YO fought on gamely to finish 6th beaten only by 4 lengths. He has drawn barrier 11 (into barrier 8 after taking out the emergencies) in the Stradbroke and with regular rider Peter Robl back on board, Your Song will settle just off the pace and make his dash in the straight. Your Song is currently $5.00 in the fixed odds market which I believe is still value.
By Owens Wong, Editor
