Eagle Farm race-by-race preview | Stradbroke Handicap Day 2022

Race 1: Listed Oxlade Stakes (1300m)

The opener is a bit of an annoying race to work out, to be honest. While it is fair from the end of the world, two of the leading chances in our view – Ringmaster and Robusto – are dual acceptors in this race and in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins later in the day. Both horses have jockeys booked in both so there is no lead there, while they’ve both drawn well in this race and poorly in the $1 million feature later in the day – so it really is a guessing game for the time being. If they start here, we want to be RINGMASTER who was brilliant seven days ago when third to Political Debate and Sharp ‘N’ Smart in The Phoenix (1500m). That looks the right form, and the drop to 1300m should suit. If neither Ringmaster or Robusto line up in this, Calgary Stampede looks the obvious.

• 4
  

  RINGMASTER

• 10
  

  ROBUSTO

• 1
  

  CALGARY STAMPEDE

• 2
  

  THELWELL

Race 2: Listed The Wayne Wilson (1600m)

The Wayne Wilson has attracted just a small field of nine for the Listed event over 1600m, while it could become eight if Scallopini gets a start in the Stradbroke. On Scallopini’s recent form, you would think he is the one to beat here, but the mile is a genuine query. One horse that won’t have any issues with 1600m is the Lawrie Mayfield-Smith-trained CHARMMEBABY, who comes into this on a seven-day back-up following a game second to Vinco in the Spear Chief Handicap (1500m). The mare by Charm Spirit is pretty well suited under weight-for-age conditions given her 94 rating, while she won’t have to do any work under Craig Williams from barrier two. This looks a great race to bet into early in the day.

• 8
  

  CHARMMEBABY

• 1
  

  SCALLOPINI

• 3
  

  BIGBOYROY

• 7
  

  BULLFINCH

Race 3: Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m)

Gee poor old SWEET THOMAS should have bolted in last start in the Group 3 Premiers Cup over 2400m here at Eagle Farm, but unfortunately for the 10-year-old, he had absolutely no luck and was bobbed out of it by Splendiferous. The Matthew Smith-trained son of Dylan Thomas is just an out-and-out two-miler, so the rise to 3200m on Saturday in a race he placed in 12 months ago is certainly an advantage. Having drawn beautifully in barrier three, Rachel King will have him settle down midfield on the back of what looks as though will be a solid tempo, allowing him to get comfortable and finish off. He looks primed to win on Saturday and his trainer is confident.

• 4
  

  SWEET THOMAS

• 3
  

  IRISH SEQUEL

• 2
  

  SPLENDIFEROUS

• 6
  

  THROUGH IRISH EYES

Race 4: Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m)

KISS SUM would have been competitive in the Stradbroke, but connections mustn’t dwell on the fact that they missed a run in the $1.5 million event and move their focus to the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic over the mile. He was a bit unlucky back to the inside in the Fred Best Classic over 1400m and was peeling ground off Vilana late, and that is the form we have taken into the Stradbroke, so you’d like to think if it is to stand up later in the day, it should stand up in this grade. Kiss Sum’s form is very good in Sydney, having run in some nice races behind the likes of Anamoe, Paulele and Kinloch. He looks beautifully placed on Saturday and the booking of Jason Collett is excellent given they had a nice combination happening earlier in the year.

• 1
  

  KISS SUM

• 2
  

  FLYING CRAZY

• 9
  

  FINEPOINT

• 4
  

  LOCH EAGLE

Race 5: Listed Hinkler Handicap (1200m)

It is strange going against Ranch Hand in a Listed race considering we would give him a hope in the Stradbroke if he got in the field, but the $3.70 with online bookmakers seems under the odds. We are once again with the Tony Gollan-trained MASS DESTRUCTION in what is an extremely competitive race. What we like most about Mass Destruction is that he has been good without winning on tracks he tends to hate, so getting to a bone-dry Eagle Farm in his third run for his preparation should be ideal. On top of that, he drops to 54kg and gets the services of Jamie Kah. The four-year-old son of Spirit Of Boom will hopefully be ridden positively on Saturday in this 1200m event, as there isn’t much speed in the race at all. He is a live chance.

• 11
  

  MASS DESTRUCTION

• 3
  

  BLONDEAU

• 5
  

  RANCH HAND

• 7
  

  WRITTEN BEAUTY

Race 6: Group 2 Q22 (2200m)

A big field of 16 will contest the second running of the $1.2 million Q22. The Doomben Cup form comes to the fore once again, with Huetor set to start favourite. Annabel Neasham won this race last year, and while Zaaki isn’t here to defend his crown, she has a nice team with both Hopeful and Numerian live chances in the 2200m race. Read our Q22 betting preview.

Race 7: Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m)

Two-year-olds have their final chance at winning a Group 1 before the season ends in Saturday’s J.J. Atkins. The $1 million race has been won by some champion youngsters in recent times, with The Autumn Sun arguably this race’s poster boy. The main chances come out of last Saturday’s The Phoenix, while the majority of the field come out of the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes. Find out who we are siding with in the 2022 J.J. Atkins.

Race 8: Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m)

As a Queenslander, the Stradbroke Handicap is the one race we look forward to each and every year. Although the race rarely attracts superstars, it is always a competitive betting race, with big fields making the race so attractive. This year is no different, with Eleven Eleven and Ayrton sharing favouritism at around $5.50. We have gone a bit wide in this race this year – but history has been with horses who start double figure odds. See our in-depth runner-by-runner preview of the 2022 Stradbroke Handicap.

Race 9: Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m)

These fillies and mares races are always lotteries, with in-form gallopers coming from everywhere and anywhere for a shot at black-type. We thought we had it worked out a fortnight ago when tipping SALATEEN in the Helen Coughlan Stakes (1200m), but she was gunned down late by the impressive Najmaty. We are going back to the well with Salateen for Tony Gollan and Jim Byrne, as she meets Najmaty 0.5kg better off at the weights. She is yet to win at Eagle Farm, but she is also yet to miss the placings at the track either, so at around the $10, we should get a good showing again. Barrier 12 will see Byrne land in the first half of the field with cover and the mare should give it a shake once again.

• 6
  

  SALATEEN

• 15
  

  NAJMATY

• 13
  

  MARIAMA

• 10
  

  LETSBEGLAM