Despite their 56kg weight allocation for Queensland’s richest race, Peter Snowden’s impressive Doomben 10,000 winner Epaulette has been installed at the top of the 2013 Stradbroke Handicap odds for Saturday week’s showdown.

Doomben 10,000 winner Epaulette is the new Stradbroke Handicap 2013 betting favourite. Photo: Daniel Costello.

The classy Commands colt raced into contention for the $1.36 million Group 1 AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 8 with their blistering two length victory over the defending champ Sea Siren in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) over the weekend.

Prior to their weight-for-age Doomben 10,000  success Epaulette, now a dual Group 1 winner having also taken out the Golden Rose last September, was paying around $7.50 in the Stradbroke Handicap odds

They have since leapfrogged to the top of the markets, their quote slashed to $4.40.

Stradbroke Handicap weights were released on Monday following the Doomben 10,000 results and Epaulette was slapped with 56kg, an allocation that was 1.5kg under the weight-for-scale for their age.

“It could be argued that he should have been given a fraction more and I really don’t think we could have given him anything less,” Racing Queensland senior handicapper Nathan Bourke said.

“He is a dual Group One winner now and his form is exceptional including a third in the Caulfield Guineas to the two glamour colts (All Too Hard and Pierro).

“He also ran second to Black Caviar (in the TJ Smith Stakes) so his form is outstanding.”

Occupying the new second line of Stradbroke Handicap betting is then Better Than Ready ($6), formerly found as long as $10, with Kelly Schweida’s local More Than Ready colt finishing a respectable fifth in the Doomben 10,000.

Former Stradbroke Handicap favourite Your Song meanwhile has eased out to $8.50, the Anthony Freedman-trained Fastnet Rock colt failing to back up from their huge five length BTC Cup victory when sixth in the Doomben 10,000.

The only other Stradbroke Handicap hopeful currently under double figures is then Rob Heathcote’s perennial Group 1 placegetter Buffering ($9).

The Doomben 10,000 was the Mossman five-year-olds’ 15^th Group 1 assignment but again they played the bridesmaid when third, their eighth minor placing at elite level.

Buffering has eased out slightly in their Straddie quote following the release of weights as they are the new 58kg topweight, former topweight Rangirangdoo sadly having to be euthanised after breaking down on the weekend.

Other horses in the Stradbroke Handicap betting mix then include Heathcote’s recent Lord Mayor’s Cup winner Solzhenitsyn ($12), the Chris Waller-trained beaten Glenlogam Park Stakes favourite Arinosa ($13) and Kelso Wood’s local BRC Sprint champ Belltone ($13).

Now is the time to get behind your favourites for the Stradbroke before prices firm over the coming week.

To lock in your selections now at the best price head over to bookmaker.com.au and enjoy betting with a 100 percent Aussie owned, operated and trusted online bookie!

2013 Stradbroke Handicap Odds

Eagle Farm Racecourse – 08/06/2013

*Odds quoted are Top 21 only, Fixed Win and subject to change @ bookmaker.com.au