Toby Edmonds’ BRC Sprint winner Tyzone has firmed in Stradbroke Handicap 2019 betting for Saturday after securing a late start in the Group 1 sprint at Eagle Farm.

Written Tycoon five-year-old Tyzone was right on the cusp of making the capacity 18-starter field for this winter’s Group 1 $1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) sitting 20^th on the order of entry.

The recent attrition rate and confirmation on Tuesday that the Tony McEvoy-trained Manuel – sixth on the ballot – would be a non-acceptor at final declaration stage on Wednesday however has seen Tyzone book his spot in the Queensland classic.

Originally CF Orr winner Manuel was set to line-up in the Stradbroke Handicap field looking to atone for his disappointing 13^th in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on May 11.

McEvoy, who will still be represented by flying The Goodwood winner Despatch and Doomben 10,000 placegetter Dollar For Dollar, has since sent Manuel out to the paddock having not seen enough to suggest a competitive run in the Straddie.

Manuel was put through his paces in a track gallop on Tuesday morning, but McEvoy failed to see the same spark the horse showed in his winning Gold Coast (1000m) trial on May 28.

“Manuel has done a good job this year but I think he has come to the end of it,” McEvoy, who travelled from Melbourne to Queensland to view the trackwork, told AAP.

“He didn’t work well enough to win a race, let alone a Stradbroke. He can go for a spell and we can look at the spring.”

The other confirmed non-starter allowing for Tyzone to run is the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Oregon’s Day (10^th) after the mare’s unimpressive 11^th in the Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m) last weekend.

Tyzone has subsequently firmed in pre-field Stradbroke Handicap odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au and is now the $9 third favourite behind Doomben 10,000 – Kingsford-Smith Cup double winning Kiwi The Bostonian ($5.50) and the Godolphin-raced Trekking ($8).

Prepared on the Gold Coast, Tyzone is the best fancied of the Queensland gallopers to keep the Stradbroke Handicap trophy at home in the sunshine state this Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.

Saturday will be his first Group 1 start, the horse having earned a shot at the lucrative feature with his smart 1.75 length Doomben win in the Group 3 $140,000 BRC Sprint (1350m) on May 18.

Blake Shinn rode Tyzone to success in the BRC Sprint but will be replaced by Tommy Berry in the 1400m handicap on Saturday.

It is also looking likely that the local Tony Gollan-trained BRC Sprint third-placed I’m A Rippa (21^st) will be among the 18 confirmed Stradbroke horses with Pat Carey’s Material Man (7^th) likely to miss the race.

I’m A Rippa is currently listed as a $41 roughie in all-in Stradbroke Handicap betting, the Love Conquers All five-year-old chasing his first win since last December’s Group 3 George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben.

To get behind your early Stradbroke Handicap tips at the hottest winter racing odds, visit Ladbrokes.com.au today.