The greatest day in Queensland racing has arrived! The $3 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap highlights a nine-race card at Eagle Farm this Saturday.
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
The Group 1 Ladbrokes JJ Atkins and the Group 2 Q22 are other highlights on a day where every race is black-type. The stage is set for an absolute belter of a meeting!
We've cast our eye over the form and provided our best bet in each race below.
RACE 1 - 11:43AM: LISTED THE WAYNE WILSON (1600 METRES)
Freedom Rally (1) is the first emergency for The Stradbroke Handicap but if he doesn't gain a start, he looks awfully hard to beat here.
The son of Rubick looks primed for a peak performance fourth-up after three very good runs this time in work.
He recorded the quickest final 400m when finishing a close third in the Listed ATC Cup first-up before costing himself victory second-up when blowing the start badly before charging home to finish a nose second in the BRC Sprint.
Last start he gave a great account of himself in the Kingsford Smith Cup when finishing 2.6 lengths fourth.
The rise to 1600m will suit and he did win his only previous race over the course and distance.
2 Units – Freedom Rally (1)
RACE 2 - 12:18PM: LISTED HINKLER HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
Pereille (5) returned in magnificent order last start over 1200m at the Sunshine Coast with an emphatic win.
The Goldolphin galloper was a class above as he stormed home to win by four lengths against a similar field to what he faces here.
He has since been back to the trials where he turned in a terrific piece of work.
He'll strip fitter and won when second-up over this distance last preparation.
James McDonald has been the form jockey of the Queensland Racing Carnival so far and sticks.
1 Unit – Pereille (5)
RACE 3 - 12:53PM: LISTED OXLADE STAKES (1300 METRES)
Depth Of Character (5) started his career in fine fashion with a win over 1250m at Canterbury.
The Annabel Neasham-trained Deep Field colt settled towards the back before unleashing a powerful sprint down the outside to win by a length.
He looked well above average and will strip fitter second-up.
A strong speed will aid his cause and should see him charging down the centre of the track, hopefully to victory.
1 Unit Each Way – Depth Of Character (5)
RACE 4 - 1:28PM: GROUP 2 BRISBANE CUP (3200 METRES)
Mostly Cloudy (7) should be ready to produce a peak performance at his fifth run this preparation.
The five-year-old gelding was slightly held up last start in the Andrew Ramsden but rocketed to the line in the final stages to finish a half-length second.
Given the way he was strong through the line, the rise to two miles will suit and he did win over this distance at Ascot when based in the UK two years ago.
Blake Shinn takes the ride which is a massive plus.
1 Unit – Mostly Cloudly (7)
RACE 5 - 2:03PM: GROUP 3 GUNSYND CLASSIC (1600 METRES)
Geriatrix (9) was ultra impressive last start when winning over 1400m here.
The Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained colt brought excellent New Zealand form with him, so it wasn't surprising to see him let down like a bullet train from the back and win by half a length.
The rise to a mile looks ideal based on the way he savaged the line.
Craig Williams can give him a beautiful run just behind the speed which looks genuine.
1 Unit Each Way – Geriatrix (9)
RACE 6 - 2:38PM: GROUP 1 LADBROKES J.J. ATKINS (1600 METRES)
Broadsiding (1) looks hard to beat in this year's Group 1 J.J. Atkins.
The James Cummings-trained son of Too Darn Hot stormed home to win the Group 2 Sires Produce Stakes and given he was six weeks between runs, he'll strip a lot fitter.
Before coming to Brisbane, he won the Listed Fernhill Stakes and Group 1 Champagne Stakes, both over this distance.
James McDonald is undefeated aboard the Godolphin galloper and will give him the run of the race.
2 Units – Broadsiding (1)
RACE 7 - 3:17PM: GROUP 2 DANE RIPPER STAKES (1300 METRES)
Coeur Volante (6) will take benefit from her first-up run in the Listed Coughlan Stakes.
The Michael Moroney-trained daughter of Proisir settled too far back before rattling home in the quickest final 200m of the race to finish fourth by 4.7 lengths.
She'll take benefit from the run and is unbeaten in two previous second-up races.
The rise in distance suits and a drier track will be to her liking.
1 Unit – Coeur Volante (6)
RACE 8 - 3:57PM: GROUP 1 STRADBROKE HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
Antino (3) is the sole hope for the locals and second favourite in this year's Stradbroke Handicap.
While the market reacted negatively to him drawing the car park, Queensland's leading trainer Tony Gollan was less perturbed by barrier 20, stating that his galloper needs room to move. He will definitely get that.
In fact, given the way the track has been playing recently, drawing wide may turn out to be a positive.
The five-year-old gelding has built an amazing career thus far, winning 10 of his 16 races.
While his Spring Carnival was frustrating at times, it should not be forgotten that he won the Group 3 Sandown Stakes and was runner-up by the narrowest of margins in the Group 2 Crystal Mile and Group 1 Toorak Handicap.
The son of Redwood had a decent break after his Spring Carnival tilt and recently returned in impressive fashion. After missing the start in the Group 2 Victory Stakes, he reeled off some exceptional closing splits to win by a length.
That continued his love affair with Eagle Farm where he has won five of seven starts including two races over this distance.
He can bounce back third-up with a massive drop in weight after racing wide throughout in the Kingsford Smith Cup last start.
Gollan has yet to win a Stradbroke Handicap, and he craves it, so he'll have this guy cherry ripe.
1 Unit Each Way – Antino (3)
RACE 9 - 4:30PM: GROUP 2 Q22 (2200 METRES)
Fawkner Park (15) has been racing in brilliant form this preparation and can add a Group win to his resume.
The Annabel Neasham-trained gelding won the Albury Cup and Wagga Cup before coming to Brisbane last start for the Doomben Cup.
He wasn't suited by the muddling tempo but still hit the line hard from the back to finish third by a neck.
The rise in distance suits given he clocked the quickest final 200m of the race.
1 Unit – Fawkner Park (15)
