Robert Smerdon’s in-form filly Lumosty remains the favourite to win Saturday’s 2015 Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben Racecourse despite sitting as the first emergency for Queensland’s richest race.
Lumosty remains favourite to win Saturday’s 2015 Stradbroke Handicap despite only being the first emergency for the Doomben classic. Photo: Adrienne Bicknell.
Set to run as Race 8 at 3:37pm (AEST) on the bumper nine-race line-up in Brisbane, this year’s $2 million Group 1 AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) features a capacity field of hopefuls with the market mover and favourite Lumosty the first emergency to get a run if there is an early scratching from the starting 16.
Drawn in barrier 13 and getting in on only 50.5kg for jockey Corey Brown if she gets a start, the there-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock comes off back-to-back Flemington wins including a runaway effort in the Listed The Straight Six (1200m) from May 23.
She opened at $7 in the post-field Stradbroke Handicap odds at Ladbrokes.com.au on Wednesday but there has been steady money on her and she is now back at the top of the markets at $5, the last favourite to salute for the punters in the classic being Black Piranha for his first back in 2009.
It is a relatively open Stradbroke Handicap betting market this year with five other single-figure hopes including Charlie Boy who is at $6 and drawn a treat in barrier seven
Craig Williams is booked to ride the in-form Peter & Paul Snowden-trained four-year-old who won the Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m) two back in his Brisbane debut before a second behind Boban in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) over the same track and distance a fortnight ago.
The last Stradbroke Handicap winner to come straight off a Doomben 10,000 run was the Peter Moody-trained mare Mid Summer Music (2012) who ran ninth in the lead-up before her victory three years ago.
The next best in betting are then Vaugh Sigley’s WA raider Black Heart Bart ($7.50) drawn wide in gate 17 and Generalife ($8) with the outside alley to overcome on Saturday if he is to salute for the Godolphin stable.
Blackfriars four-year-old Black Heart Bart is yet to race in the Sunshine State having only had the one eastern state run to date when fourth behind Flamberge in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) in Adelaide on May 16.
Generalife meanwhile is one of two John O’Shea-trained hopes in the field, jockey Hugh Bowman booked to ride the widely-drawn Lonhro five-year-old who comes of a brave third when only a quarter-length off the winner in the Doomben 10,000 on May 23.
Rounding out the hopes under $10 in the markets are then the Chris Waller-trained three-year-old son of Shamardal Delectation ($8.50) and O’Shea’s other runner Knoydart ($9) who is firming after an ideal barrier four draw for the weekend.
Delectation, looking to become the first three-year-old Stradbroke winner since Sincero (2011), won the Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) at Randwick on April 11 before a last start third behind Into the Red at Doomben in the Listed Ascot Handicap (1200m) on Doomben 10,000 Day.
Knoydart in his top barrier still looks great value, James McDonald sticking on the More Than Ready gelding who ran second to Hot Snitzel in the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m) and then fourth in the Doomben 10,000.
At more generous odds but not without claims for an upset Stradbroke Handicap result are then the likes of Waller’s 10,000 winner Boban ($10) carrying the 58kg top weight from gate eight, the Kiwi in the mix Sacred Star ($11) who Zac Purton rides from barrier five and last year’s third placegetter Srikandi ($12) with the rails run and only 53kg on her back.
See below for the full Stradbroke Handicap 2015 betting odds, prices open online now at Ladbrokes.com.au who are offering Best Tote or SP + 20% on your winnings for the three Group 1s in Brisbane on Saturday!
