THE next piece of the 2015 AAMI Stradbroke Handicap puzzle has been put in place after Racing Queensland released the weights for the time-honoured event this morning.
Following an emphatic victory on Saturday, Doomben 10,000 winner Boban for Chris Waller has been allocated the top weight of 58kg, while the Darren Weir-trained Lucky Hussler has been allocated 56kgs.
The winter’s other Group 1 winners, BTC Cup winner Hot Snitzel and Goodwood Handicap winner Flamberge, will carry 55.5kg and 55kg respectively. Kiwi raider Sacred Star will also carry 55kg when he
backs up in consecutive Stradbrokes
2014 runner up Temple of Boom (54.5kg) is the heaviest-weighted Queensland runner in the absence of defending champion River Lad, who has been spelled.
Racing Queensland CEO Darren Condon said the Stradbroke Handicap, which will carry $2 million in stakes for the first time on June 6, was a highlight of not only the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, but the state’s sporting calendar.
“The Stradbroke is Queensland’s premier Group 1 race and there will no doubt be plenty of interest with the weights released this morning,” Mr Condon said.
“Group 1 racing is the pinnacle of our sport and it will be great to see another champion add their name to what is a star-studded honour roll of Stradbroke winners.”
Mr Condon said the revamped Queensland Winter Racing Carnival continued to attract strong interest among racegoers and punters.
“On the weekend we had almost 10,000 people attend the Doomben 10,000 meeting on another magnificent Queensland winter’s day, while early indications show wagering turnover was also up on last year,” Mr Condon said.
“The motivation for the revamp was to heighten interest in our carnival product and to date we have achieved that with strong wagering results, good crowds and terrific interest from interstate and New Zealand-based horses.
“There is no better time to get out to the track in Queensland than during the winter and we look forward to the next four weeks of racing, which will include the Oaks and Stradbroke meetings at Doomben, the Ipswich Cup and the Tatt’s Tiara at the Gold Coast.”
