There is a new favourite in Stradbroke Handicap 2022 betting for Saturday with the Gregory Hickman-trained Eleven Eleven shooting to the top of the markets following an ideal barrier five draw.

Eleven Eleven has firmed into top spot in 2022 Stradbroke Handicap betting for Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.

Tuesday evening saw the official barrier draw take place for Saturday’s Group 1 $1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), and one-time favourite Ayrton suffered an early blow drawing out in gate 19.

The Iffraaj four-year-old from the Cranbourne stables of Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr. has now eased out to $7.50 in the updated Stradbroke Handicap odds at Ladbrokes.com.au with work to do from the wide alley.

He chases his seventh career win at start number 10 reuniting with jockey Jamie Kah.

Last time out he pulled hard under the riding of Hugh Bowman, and was found to be lame post-race after finishing a distant eighth behind Zaaki in the Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 7.

Ayrton looked the picture of health on Tuesday morning in a track gallop, however has been on the drift since the barriers were confirmed.

New favourite heading the markets at $6, Fastnet Rock five-year-old Eleven Eleven has Bowman continuing associations.

The dual Magic Millions Cup winner is third-up and fit following two good lead-up runs, the latest seeing him run just a neck back third to Apache Chase in the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m).

Apache Chase also returns for the rematch in the Straddie landing a plum draw in gate three for veteran hoop Jim Byrne, but is only rated a $10 shot in the Stradbroke Handicap odds.

Byrne was brilliant aboard Desleigh Forster’s local Better Than Ready four-year-old leading all-the-way to win the Kingsford-Smith Cup last time out, but the horse is likely to be stretched stepping-up to 1400m this weekend.

Another well-supported local around the same price in the markets is Tony Gollan’s well-drawn mare Isotope ($11).

William Pike partners the four-year-old daughter of Deep Field who is looking to return to winning form for the first time since her Magic Millions Sprint win back in January.

While she is yet to win over further than 1200m, and her Eagle Farm record has just the one placing form four starts, there is money for her to improve on an eye-catching Kingsford-Smith Cup performance.

Her run for ninth when only 2.55 lengths beaten is better than it looks on paper, and she looks one of the better chances to finish right up in the money late.

The other danger drawn right out in barrier 21 is former Queenslander, the now Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Alligator Blood ($12).

Jockey Tim Clark has work to do from the alley, but Alligator Blood is not without his supporters boasting an excellent 1400m record with four wins from six starts at the distance.

The now five-year-old hasn’t won a race since his Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) success in Melbourne back in 2020, but he put the writing on the wall when narrowly denied victory fresh last time out.

Debuting for the Waterhouse/Bott stable following a transfer from Sunshine Coast horseman David Vandyke, the galloper carried 59kg form barrier 15 of 16 and still only went down a nose to Soxagon here in the Group 3 BRC Sprint (1300m).

The Mark Currie-trained Soxagon chasing a hat-trick also backs-up in the higher-grade feature this weekend coming back from 58kg to 54.5kg, while Alligator Blood will cart 55kg in the handicap clash.

The 2022 Stradbroke Handicap is set to run as Eagle Farm Race 8 at 3:53pm (AEST) on Saturday with full markets, courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au, available here.

2022 Stradbroke Handicap Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.