Today, Saturday June 8, the 2013 Stradbroke Handicap Day action is top class at Eagle Farm with a crack nine event program to entertain and to help you clean up at this huge race meeting below we take a look at our best bets of the day.

Academus (Inside) in Race 4 looks one of the best Stradbroke Handicap Day bets. Photo: Daniel Costello.

Of the nine races running for Straddie Day this year five hold Group status including three Group 1 classics for punters to sink their teeth into with:

• Race 6 (2:20pm) – $500,000 Group 1 Patinack Farm J.J. Atkins (1600m) – Last major juvenile race of the season with a field of 13 engaged including the Gai Waterhouse-trained favourite Romantic Touch ($2.40) after their third on the trot and Chris Waller’s undefeated youngster Zoustar ($4.40)
• Race 7 (3:00pm) – $500,000 Group 1 Channel Seven Queensland Derby (2400m) – Second biggest race on the program with a full field of 18 three-year-olds to face off, betting led by Kiwi visitor Survived ($3.80) and their last start conqueror Hawkspur ($4.20) from Waller’s Sydney stables who is after the Winter 3YO’s Triple Crown
• Race 8 (3:40pm) – $1.36 million Group 1 AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) – The day’s marquee event has also drawn a capacity field of 18 hopefuls with stars a plenty in the mix including BTC Cup winner Your Song ($4.80), Kelso Wood’s Group 1 winning colt Sizzling ($7), last start Doomben 10,000 hero Epaulette ($7) and good old Buffering ($8)

The other Group-status supported races are then the fillies and mares facing off in the $200,000 Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) which is a nice lead-up for those heading towards the season’s final Group 1- the $500,000 Tattersall’s Tiara at the same track and distance on June 22; and the $300,000 Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m).

The 2013 Brisbane Cup, featuring an open field of hopefuls including last year’s Queensland Oaks winner Quintessential and the widely-drawn favourite Moriarty, actually brings Stradbroke Day to a close as Race 9 at 4:20pm and is an excellent way to finish things up.

Earlier in the week we published our exclusive Stradbroke Handicap Day 2013 Betting Tips listing our top three fancies in all the scheduled races.

So you can really give the bookies a hard time today below we take a better look at some of those tips expanding on ways you can add to your betting account in a positive way at bookmaker.com.au.

In The Big One – Race 8 – Stradbroke Handicap

#17 Better Than Ready ($8)

Kelly Schweida’s local three-year-old has a wide draw to overcome but class to do so in the Straddie today. Have been sniffing around for a Group 1 win this winter with their third in the BTC CUp on a mud track and good fifth in the 10,000. Expect improvement on both as they get a firmer track today and come back from 57kg to a much more manageable 52.5kg here. Really like them with that weight and they know how to win boasting a 50% win rate which is the best in the race and an awesome Eagle Farm record (5-3-1-1).

Best Roughie Bet – Race 7 – Queensland Derby

#14 Ali Vital ($41)

Really juicy odds on this up-and-comer from Michael Moroney’s Flemington stables who faces their acid test today. Lightly raced Yamanin Vital gelding with six starts, the last two of which they have won at Warrnambool and then Doomben. Brisbane win was an excellent effort over 2200m when winning by three lengths so they can handle this way of racing and the distance, but can they handle the class? Divided over whether they will beat this top field but certainly worth a look so take them Each Way.

Better Than Bank Interest – Race 3 – Daybreak Lover

#1 Academus ($2.70)

Sticking with quite a few of the favourites today but the one we are really liking as a ‘sure thing’ is Academus in the $125,000 Listed McGrath Daybreak Lover (1600m) where they are the shortie in the markets. Kerrin McEvoy stays on this Peter Snowden-trained Lonhro three-year-old who was originally eyeing off a run in the Stradbroke Handicap. Would likely have been balloted out so going for this easier option today on the back of some excellent winter form. First-up winner of the Gold Coat Guineas, third under a length off the winner in the Fred Best at Doomben and then finished fourth to Sizzling, one of the top three chances in the Stradbroke, in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1400m) last Saturday. Goes up to the mile, which they handled to win the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot last November, so that’s in their favour as is the track conditions and barrier one.

Found a punt you’d like to place at Eagle Farm today? Visit bookmaker.com.au now to get in on the action and don’t forget to take advantage of their awesome Stradbroke Handicap Money Back Special where if you’re runner finishes second or third behind a Queensland-trained Stradbroke winner you’ll be refunded up to $100!

*All odds quoted are Fixed Win from bookmaker.com.au and subject to change