Doomben 10,000 victor Boban has been allocated the topweight for Saturday week’s $2 million Group I Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben.
Boban ended a sequence of nine unplaced runs when causing an upset in last Saturday’s Group I Doomben 10,000 but will have to carry 58kg in the Stradbroke Handicap if trainer Chris Waller decides to run.
It is understood that Waller is currently lukewarm on the idea of Boban reverting to handicap conditions which could elevate the weights by up to 2.5kg.
Doomben 10,000 placegetters Charlie Boy and Generalife are set to press on to Queensland’s biggest race with 54kg and 54.5kg respectively.
Flemington Straight Six winner Lumosty has been allotted a featherweight of 50.5kg which is expected to be enough to tempt trainer Robert Smerdon to send the filly for the long trip north.
The only other potential runner with 50.5kg is Peter Moody’s filly Bring Me The Maid.
Defending Stradbroke Handicap champion River Lad has 56kg, 1kg more than the weight he carried to victory last year.
With the 2015 Stradbroke Handicap to be staged at Doomben instead of Eagle Farm, the field has been reduced from 18 to 16. There are currently 40 horses in the ballot order.
The winner of this Saturday’s Group II QTC Cup (1200m) will join Boban, Hot Snitzel, Flamberge and Sacred Star as exempt from ballot.
Click here to view the 2015 Stradbroke Handicap weights.
Tom Walter
www.racenet.com.au