Mark Kavanagh’s ‘Whobegotoyou’ is set to carry the top weight in this year’s million dollar Stradbroke Handicap following yesterday’s release of the weights.
Sydney trained ‘Danleigh’, who ran second in the Group one race last year, was set to carry the top weight of 57.5kg, but is now out in the paddock after his glorious Sydney autumn campaign.
With Danleigh out of contention, the weights will be re assessed, with the Queensland owned Whobegotyou set to head the field after being allocated 57kg.
Whobegotyou is coming off a lengthy break after last spring winning the Group 1 Yalumba Stakes at weight for age over 2000m, before finishing unplaced in the Cox Plate. After maturing over the summer, he may attempt a first-up win in the Stradbroke (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 12.
Last year’s Stradbroke winner Black Piranha (55.5kg) goes up two kilograms from his winning weight of 53.5kg, whilst Ortensia (53.5kg), after being placed third as a three-year-old filly last year, also rises two kilograms.
Ortensia has been a frustrating horse to follow since last years Queensland campaign, winning the Group 1 AJC Galaxy at Randwick impressively, before only managing a fifth placing under weight for age conditions in last Saturday’s BTC Cup at Doomben.
The winner of last weeks BTC Cup ‘Albert the Fat’ has been given 52kg for the Stradbroke and the Group 2 Victory Stakes winner ‘Ghetto Blaster’ 51.5kg.
The 2009 Magic Millions and Golden Slipper winner ‘Phelan Ready’ has 52.5kg and is among an impressive list of three year olds set to play a big hand in this year’s Stradbroke.
The group includes Melito (51.5kg), Shellscrape (50.5kg), Set for Fame (49.5kg), Graceful Anna (49.5kg) and Latin News (50kg).
Written by Isaac Chaplin