The Tony Gollan-trained Vega One remains top of the odds to complete a Queensland Group 1 double on Saturday when the last start Kingsford-Smith Cup champion lines-up in the 2021 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm.

Vega One (pictured at the Gold Coast) chases another Group 1 win in Saturday’s 2021 Stradbroke Handicap. Photo: Steve Hart.

Final acceptances for this year’s Group 1 $1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) have revealed a capacity line-up of winter stars.

With the Stradbroke Handicap barrier draw scheduled to take place Tuesday afternoon at 5:30pm (AEST), there’s an early battle for top spot in the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Post-acceptance Stradbroke Handicap odds have Vega One and the Hawkes Racing-trained Wild Planet at an equal $6.

Rachel King comes aboard Gollan’s in-form Lope De Vega five-year-old Vega One after Jamie Kah rode the galloper to his surprise win in the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) on May 29.

That was the horse’s third win from eight starts at the track (8:3-1-0) and he also boasts an excellent record over the 1400m distance of the Stradbroke (9:4-1-0) ahead of the weekend’s feature.

Vega One carried 59kg to victory from a wide alley (13 of 15) last time out and overcame plenty of hurdles the final furlong, with connections hoping for a kinder alley this Saturday.

He drops right back to just 53kg in the Stradbroke Handicap weights and shapes up as the one to beat again.

The current equal favourite in Stradbroke Handicap betting, Wild Planet is set to be ridden by Tommy Berry on 54kg second-up.

The five-year-old Animal Kingdom gelding has his first start at Eagle Farm in the Straddie, but was good last time out at sister track Doomben.

First-up off a six-month spell, Wild Planet ran out of his skin to cross just a quarter-length second to Eduardo in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) carrying 58.5kg.

He has been kept fresh again for his next Group 1 assignment in the Sunshine State looking to further frank the form out of the 10,000 following Vega One (4^th) who improved on a fourth in it to win the Kingsford-Smith Cup.

Outside the top two, there are a further two other single-figure chances in the pre-barrier Stradbroke markets with the top-weight Mr Quickie and The Harrovian both at $8 to win.

Winner of the 2019 Queensland Derby and last year’s Toorak Handicap, the Phillip Stokes-trained Mr Quickie brings in a different form line having been racing consistently under big weights (60.5kg and 61kg) in Melbourne.

The Harrovian meanwhile is another Doomben 10,000 graduate, Toby & Trent Edmonds’ seven-year-old coming off a third when only a half-length beaten as a 30/1 outsider.

The other best in the Stradbroke Handicap odds online – available in full here – ahead of the all-important barrier draw include Michael Moroney’s Ocean Park mare Tofane ($10) last seen running second in the Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m), and three-year-old 49.5kg light weight Apache Chase ($12) who carried 57kg to a Group 3 Fred Best win at the track and distance on May 29.

2021 Stradbroke Handicap Final Field

Table Credit: Racing Australia.