Following the release of the capacity 18-starter, five-emergency 2013 Stradbroke Handicap field earlier this morning, the barrier draw for the premier sunshine state showdown has also now taken place with race favourite Epaulette drawing one of the extreme outside barriers with 22.
Pre-race favourite Epaulette has suffered a blow with barrier 22 for the Stradbroke Handicap 2013. Photo: Daniel Costello.
The Peter Snowden-trained classy son of Commands shot to the top of the Stradbroke Handicap odds after beating home a crack field in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) on May 25 by two lengths.
They must however overcome the 56kg second top-weight to secure the Doomben 10,000 – Stradbroke Handicap double and now will need to have a lot of luck with a horror barrier 22 draw.
If the five emergencies don’t get a run however Epaulette will come into gate 17 of 18, a gate that has produced one former Stradbroke Handicap winner.
There were plenty of wide draws for the other top fancies for the $1.36 million Group 1 AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) too including:
- #Sizzling (Barrier 18) – Kelso Wood-trained local Snitzel colt looked spot on when winning the Group 2 Queensland Guineas over this track and distance last Saturday from barrier 11 (of 16), has to handle the short back-up but gets in with a great weight dropping from 57kg to just 52kg with Chris Munce to ride this track specialist, is also wide with 18 which is actually the most successful Stradbroke Handicap barrier in history; into 14 with emergencies out which has produced two previous winners
- #8 Your Song (Barrier 11) – Anthony Cummings’ Sydney visitor was former favourite for the Straddie after winning the Group 1 BTC Cup (1350m) at Doomben first-up by an impressive five lengths in the wet, weren’t quite as good however when sixth in the 10,000 but had the visitor’s gate (15 of 15) and is tipped to improve here with Peter Robl taking back in the saddle; into 8 with emergencies out
- #17 Better Than Ready (Barrier 19) – Another top local chance this one prepared by Kelly Schweida, Craig Newitt to ride the More Than Ready colt who was third in the BTC Cup and fifth in the 10,000 – another favourite out wide with gate 19; into 15 with emergencies out
The big winner at today’s draw meanwhile was the Rob Heathcote-trained Buffering who came up trumps with gate six.
The always honest $2.3 million earner is out to break their Group 1 maiden status at attempt number 16th on the back of a Doomben 10,000 third and should get a sweet run from their barrier, into four with the emergencies out.
Also in the mix for Heathcote and perhaps the forgotten horse in the Stradbroke Handicap 2013 is his Group 1 Toorak Handicap winner Solzhenitsyn who has barrier 17.
The St Petersburg gelding is Heathcote’s only Group 1 champion to date and ran a nice Stradbroke lead-up when winning the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1600m) at Doomben on May 18 from the outside barrier (11 of 11).
They had 59kg for that run and go back to 56kg on Saturday which may look like a lot of weight for some other horses but is actually a nice allocation for them according to Heathcote.
Other horses to draw favourably for the race then include the Tony Gollan-trained Toowoomba galloper Spirit Of Boom (barrier two), Kelso Wood’s BRC Sprint winner Belltone (barrier three) and the Anthony Cummings-trained Fontelina (barrier four) who is a last start black type winner at Scone.
Remember too that if the five emergencies fail to gain a start then the Stradbroke Handicap barriers will change come jump time on Saturday with the final 18 starters drawn wider than the spares coming into closer gates.
See below for the full 2013 Stradbroke Handicap field and barrier draw.
Updated betting markets are due for release at our preferred online bookie bookmaker.com.au shortly so make sure you’re ready to get behind your favourites at the best prices by signing up with them today.
Bookmaker.com.au will also be offering exclusive Pick Your Own Stradbroke Handicap Odds – just another reason why you shouldn’t bet anywhere else this winter!
2013 Stradbroke Handicap Barrier Draw
Eagle Farm Race 8 – 3:40pm (AEST) – 08/06/2013
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Br. | Wgt. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2x1168x143 | BUFFERING | Robert Heathcote | Damian Browne | 6 | 58kg |
| 2 | 0x3113x261 | EPAULETTE | Peter Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 22 | 56kg |
| 3 | 13136×3071 | SOLZHENITSYN (NZ) | Robert Heathcote | Michael Rodd | 17 | 56kg |
| 4 | 3618×22734 | STREAMA | Guy Walter | Glen Boss | 14 | 54.5kg |
| 5 | x2401150x7 | MY QUEST FOR PEACE (IRE) | Peter G Moody | Luke Nolen | 23 | 54.5kg |
| 6 | x1x400x511 | LINTON | John Sadler | Nicholas Hall | 21 | 54.5kg |
| 7 | x150x23663 | DECISION TIME | Clarry Conners | Hugh Bowman | 12 | 54.5kg |
| 8 | 311283×16 | YOUR SONG | Anthony Cummings | Peter Robl | 11 | 54kg |
| 9 | 273×366264 | SPIRIT OF BOOM | Tony Gollan | Michael Cahill | 2 | 54kg |
| 10 | 053x950x00 | HAPPY ZERO | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Dwayne Dunn | 13 | 54kg |
| 11 | 0x942x6107 | HOT SNITZEL | Gerald Ryan | – | 8 | 54kg |
| 12 | 783040×309 | YOSEI | Stuart Webb | Ms Michelle Payne | 10 | 53.5kg |
| 13 | 52117x0x51 | BELLTONE | Kelso Wood | Christian Reith | 3 | 53.5kg |
| 14 | 010×635110 | FAMOUS SEAMUS (NZ) | Noel Mayfield-Smith | Glen Colless | 16 | 53.5kg |
| 15 | 6x10x77501 | FONTELINA | Anthony Cummings | Jim Cassidy | 4 | 53.5kg |
| 16 | 2230×62180 | SPIRIT SONG | Kelso Wood | Michael Walker | 9 | 52.5kg |
| 17 | 311×215135 | BETTER THAN READY | Kelly Schweida | Craig Newitt | 19 | 52.5kg |
| 18 | x46122x561 | SIZZLING | Kelso Wood | Chris Munce | 18 | 52kg |
| 19e | 6×23511222 | RIVA DE LAGO | Chris Waller | – | 7 | 52.5kg |
| 20e | x72532x522 | CONSERVATORIUM | Gary Kennewell | Joe Bowditch | 5 | 52.5kg |
| 21e | 06x2237x69 | PHELAN READY | Jason McLachlan | Timothy Bell | 20 | 52.5kg |
| 22e | 09690×8838 | CELTIC DANCER | Noel J Doyle | – | 1 | 52kg |
| 23e | 340×732435 | MISS STELLABELLE | Gai Waterhouse | Jim Byrne | 15 | 52kg |
