James Cummings is confident that Vilana’s recent victory in the Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m) sets him up perfectly for Saturday’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
The five-year-old drew gate 14 in the barrier draw, firming into outright favouritism at +450 with horse racing bookmakers as of Thursday morning.
This will be Vilana’s third attempt in the $3 million contest, having finished eighth in 2022 and tenth last year.
“He was dynamic in that race and he really let go, it was a resounding victory there,” Cummings told Racing Queensland regarding Vilana’s Moreton Cup triumph.
“He’s perfectly fit, he dropped back in distance to win that Moreton Cup and he steps back up to the seven furlongs in the Stradbroke in good shape.
“He pulled up amazing…he was licking his lips coming off the track this morning looking good.
“We’re satisfied to accept with a horse on the backup and we’d like to give the horse another opportunity to see if he can go a little closer.”
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