It could be a red letter day for leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller and jockey Nash Rawiller at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Waller and Rawiller are poised to finish the season at the top of the Group 1 table with both winning eight Group 1’s so far this season.
The Sydney duo will team up with Brazen Beau, the early favourite for the Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m) and Vilanova in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m).
Most of their success at the highest level has come individually with Red Tracer the only time they have combined to win a Group 1 in the Myer Classic at Flemington in the spring.
Red Tracer is targeting the $1 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on Saturday and if weather predictions are correct, the bonny mare is in with a strong chance for Waller.
Rain is forecast for much of the week leading up to Queensland’s famous 1400-metre sprint which is ideal for Red Tracer who has won eight of her 12 starts on slow or heavy tracks.
Waller is arguably been in career-best form after training five winners at Rosehill last Saturday.
Red Tracer, who has won the Dane Ripper Stakes for the past two years, hasn’t raced since finishing third to Diamond Drille in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes at Rosehill on April 19.
The rising seven-year-old mare has won 15 of her 36 starts and accumulated more than $2.37 million in prizemoney.
Though Waller has major chances in three Group 1 features races, he will be content if successful in just one.
Exciting filly Srikandi is the $4.50 Stradbroke favourite, ahead of Rebel Dane at $6.00 in latest markets.
Vilanova heads the markets at $4.00 in the Queensland Derby while Brazen Beau is a $2.30 favourite for the J.J. Atkins.
Brazen Beau, a winner of two of his four starts, went down to Time For War in the Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes at Doomben last start.
Vilanova, who has won only three of his 23 starts, rocked into Queensland Derby favouritism with a sizzling win in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes at Eagle Farm.
– Racing Queensland
