The headline race at Eagle Farm Racecourse for the official last day of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival on Saturday is the Stradbroke Handicap 2016, betting tips for the sprint classic found below.

Doomben 10,000 winner Music Magnate is the Races.com.au tip to win Saturday’s 2016 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm. Photo: Daniel Costello.

Due to run as Eagle Farm Race 9 at 3:40pm (AEST), this year’s $1.5 million Group 1 AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) has the full 18 starters in the mix including the Ciaron Maher-trained favourite and market mover Azkadellia.

The Caulfield-based Maher prepared last year’s Stradbroke Handicap winning mare Srikandi and returns with his daughter of Shinko King Azkadellia this weekend.

She won the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) two back in Sydney before an eye-catching second in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) last time out that she’s tipped to improve on at the roomier Eagle Farm course.

Drawn in barrier five with Damien Oliver booked for the ride, four-year-old Azkadellia opened at $4 in Stradbroke Handicap betting at Ladbrokes.com.au but has since firmed into $3.40.

There are a further four single-figure hopes in the latest Stradbroke Handicap odds including Darren Weir’s The Goodwood winner Black Heart Bart ($5.50), BTC Cup champ Malaguerra ($9.50) and the Doomben 10,000 winner Music Magnate ($9.50).

The past four Stradbroke Handicap champs however saluted at double-figures meaning there could be value tipping an upset result again in 2016 from the likes of Kaepernick ($12) or Under The Louvre ($13).

1^st

#4 Music Magnate ($9.50)

Going the upset, which is not uncommon in recent Straddie history, and are tipping the Doomben 10,000 form to stack up again. The double is super rare and hasn’t been won since Campaign King (1988), but think the horse to break it is this Bjorn Baker-trained four-year-old. He beat Azkadellia home in the lead-up and drops from 59kg to 55.5kg here. She too gets weight relief, but with last year’s winning hoop Kerrin McEvoy aboard from gate three we’re sticking with the Music.

2^nd

#5 Azkadellia ($3.40)

She’s the deserving favourite and Maher knows how to train a mare to win the Stradbroke, but favourites have such a poor recent record in the race. The four-year-old is ticking plenty of boxes, is a Group 1 winner, is in flying form, can improve on her Doomben 10,000 second with more room and metres here and drops kilos. It’ll be close and she does love 1400m (4-2-2-0).

3^rd

#1 Black Heart Bart ($5.50)

The weight is the big worry for Weir’s flying The Goodwood winner who has run top two in all runs this campaign. He’s a Group 1 winner last time out but carries 58kg on Saturday, which history says rules him out of the win. The five-year-old is too good to ignore completely however especially looking at his 1400m record (9-5-3-0).

Whether you’re backing or sacking our Stradbroke Handicap 2016 betting tips make sure you lock in the right prices online at Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Odds Boost!