Stradbroke Handicap Tips - Vilana hard to beat in Straddy at Eagle Farm
- The $3 million Stradbroke Handicap runs on June 15 at Eagle Farm
- Vilana won the recent Moreton Cup and is in top form
- Top betting picks include Vilana and value pick Freedom Rally
The Stradbroke Handicap is worth $3 million and is one of two Group 1 races at Eagle Farm on Saturday June 15.
Think About It, Alligator Blood and Tofane are recent winners with a field of 18 plus five emergencies accepted for the famous Brisbane feature in 2024.
Vilana is one of five last start winners in this year' race and claimed the Moreton Cup (1200m) at his most recent start.
Betting is tight outside of the Godolphin contender with seven other contenders hovering around the $10 quote in most markets, including the Doomben 10000 (1200m) winner Bella Nipotina and Goodwood (1200m) winner Benedetta.
Stradbroke Handicap Preview
Vilana had the measure of his rivals in the Group 2 Moreton Cup, winning by four lengths from Mazu.
The five-year-old went 9.3 lengths faster than standard benchmark, which is the best last start figure of any runner.
He has drawn barrier 14 for this and will be ridden by Tim Clark, who will look to find cover from barrier 14.
Pace looks genuine with the likes of Prince Of Boom, Here To Shaock, Semana and Yellow Brick to go forward. Antino and Bella Nipotina are among those that draw right out.
The latter duo are among five contenders that come out of the Kingsford Smith Cup. Bella Nipotina was runner-up in that Group 1 behind I Wish I Win and carries 56kg.
She had four lengths on Antino, who was posted wide throughout. Antino is 3.5kg better at the weights. Freedom Rally was a solid 4th in that race and 6.5kg better over Bella Nipotina.
Benedetta has the form on the board and has been right amongst it in some of the best sprints during her campaign. The Victorian mare overcame a slow tempo to score in the Goodwood and draws nicely in barrier 6. She will get back and be strong late.
Amenable has finished runner-up in three of his past four. That includes one behind Magic Time over the 1400m on a Heavy track at Randwick in the All-Aged Stakes (1400m).
He was then unlucky in the Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) at Scone on May 18. Magic Time could only manage 8th in the Kingsford Smith Cup.
Four runners come out of the BRC Sprint (1200m), which was taken out by Here To Shock. Not quite sure that is the form reference for this.
Stefi Magnetica is another in the market and has been consistent in recent times. The three-year-old was beaten just over a length by Bella Nipotina in the Doomben 10000 and is 4kg better at the weights. She has since finished 3rd behind Roll On High.
2024 Stradbroke Handicap Tips
Best Bet - Vilana
Vilana should be hard to beat and looks to be in career best form since he has been kept to the sprinting trips by the stable.
The son of Hallowed Crown has firmed in the betting since the barrier draw and drops 3kg from his recent win.
The five-year-old is no stranger to Eagle Farm, having won twice at the venue and once over the 1400m distance of the Stradbroke Handicap.
I don’t have a massive issue with barrier 14 and he is likely to come into barrier 11 after the removal of the emergencies.
Value Bet - Freedom Rally
There are a few that can bob up under the Handicap conditions of the race, including the likes of Antino, Stefi Magnetica and Freedom Rally.
Of that trio, I am keen to have something on Freedom Rally, who drops a whopping 8.5kg from the Kingsford Smith Cup.
He was unlucky in his runs prior to that and was able to begin well in the Kingsford Smith Cup to settle handy, going down behind a trio of big names in I Wish I Win, Bella Nipotina and In Secret.
The four-year-old has won two of three at the track and trip and draws to enjoy a nice trail from barrier 5, providing he can sneak into the field as the second emergency.
Verdict
Our selections for the Stradbroke Handicap:
Vilana
Win
@9/2 - 3 Units
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Freedom Rally
Each-Way
@12/1 - 1 Unit
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