A field of 10 potential Stradbroke Handicap horses face off at Doomben Racecourse on Saturday in the BRC Sprint 2020 field as part of a reduced Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.

Kementari is one of the potential Stradbroke Handicap horses lining-up in the 2020 BRC Sprint this Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.

One of the few remaining elite level winter races on the program due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Group 1 $350,000 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) is slated for Eagle Farm on June 6.

A vital early lead-up to the classic is this weekend’s Group 3 $125,000 BRC Sprint (1200m) where last year’s Stradbroke Handicap winning trainer James Cummings saddles-up the 61kg topweight Kementari.

Winner of the Group 1 Randwick Guineas as a three-year-old back in 2018, the now five-year-old son of Lonhro is chasing his first win since.

He is out to break the drought third-up in Brisbane on Saturday on the back of two nice lead-up thirds in Sydney over the distance following a year long stint on the sidelines.

Kementari looks to be back in strong form and carried 60kg first-up when only a half-length off the winner in the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) and then the same kilos when third to Greyworm on April 18 in Randwick’s Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m).

Up in weight with 61kg for the BRC Sprint, the Godolphin-raced galloper remains a chance from gate eight with Ryan Maloney in the saddle.

Also high up the weights in the BRC Sprint this season with 51.5kg is the rails-drawn Victorem for Port Macquarie trainer Jenny Graham.

The five-year-old son of I Am Invincible races fresh in the BRC Sprint racing for the first time since a second in The Kosciuszko (1200m) last October.

A proven Brisbane performer with plenty of form at the Doomben track (4:1-1-2) and a strong 1200m record (8:3-2-1), Victorem also races well first-up (6:2-2-0) and looks a big hope kicking off his winter bid.

From the Gold Coast, last year’s BRC Sprint winner Tyzone returns with 58kg in gate five, the Written Tycoon six-year-old looking to improve on a first-up seventh in the Hall Mark Stakes.

Third to Deep Image at Eagle Farm in last December’s The Buffering (1400m), Tyzone won the BRC Sprint last year with 57.5kg after an eight in the Hall Mark and went on to finish second to Trekking in the 2019 Stradbroke Handicap results.

Should he frank that form again this weekend he will become the first back-to-back BRC Sprint winner since Pleasure Giver (1999-2000).

The other two key standouts in the field are the Tony Gollan-trained stablemates Vega One and Outback Barbie drawn in barriers 10 and three respectively.

There is sure to be money for Lope De Vega four-year-old Vega One despite him drawing the outside alley, the Doomben specialist last seen running just a length back fourth at the Sunshine Coast over 1000m on ANZAC Day.

He carted a big weight (62kg) over the short-distance showdown first-up and presents fitter for the run this weekend coming back to a far more manageable 57kg looking for his first win since the $1 million Magic Millions Cup (1400m) on the Gold Coast back in January.

Outback Barbie gets the run of the race from her ideal barrier three draw, jockey Jim Byrne to ride the four-year-old daughter of Spirit Of Boom.

The well-bred mare has a great record over the 1200m at Doomben (5:2-2-0) and races for the first time since her Magic Millions Day win in the QTIS race over 1300m.

A recent winning Doomben trial over 1000m has Outback Barbie fit and ready to fire in the BRC Sprint and with 56kg she looks a nice weighted chance to salute.

Click here for the updated BRC Sprint 2020 betting odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2020 BRC Sprint Field & Barriers