The Godolphin Team will seriously consider running Impending in the Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben on June 9 after the dual Group 1 winner was allocated the equal second top weight for the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival’s premier sprint.

Le Romain, above, has been allocated the top weight for the 2018 Stradbroke handicap at Doomben. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Impending along with the Lindsay Park trained Vega Magic have both been allocated 57.5kg for the Stradbroke Handicap when weights were released today and Godolphin’s Australian Racing Manger Vin Cox said that was what he expected the Lonhro stallion to get after he won his second Group 1 trophy with a resounding victory in the Group 1 $700,000 Altus Traffic Kingsford-Smith Cup (1350m) at Doomben last Saturday.

The James Cummings trained Impending will be chasing back to back wins in the Stradbroke Handicap after carrying 52.5kg to victory last year when prepared by stand in trainer Darren Beadman.

“That’s right in the slot of what we would have expected,” Cox told The Courier-Mail.

“He’s a weight-for-age Group 1 winner now and he won the race last year, so he’s entitled to get that.

“We will discuss it, but the intent was always to have a crack at the Stradbroke and things would have to go terribly wrong for him not to run. He’s absolutely thriving in Queensland.”

Kingsford-Smith Cup runner up and multiple Group 1 winner Le Romain has the privilege of carrying the top weight and was allocated 58kg for this year’s Stradbroke Handicap.

The Kris Lees trained Le Romain is a consistent Group 1 performer and is overdue for another win at the elite level after being placed at his last three starts.

Prior to being pipped on the post by Impending in the Kingsford-Smith Stakes, Le Romain had finished second to Trapeze Artist in the Group 1 $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 21 followed by a third to English in the Group 1 $700,000 Kirin Doomben 10,000 (1200m) at Doomben on May 12.

Bjorn Baker’s talented filly Champagne Cuddles has the featherweight of 50kg and is going to meet Impending and Le Romain many kilos better at the weights in the Stradbroke Handicap after flashing home for third behind those two in the weight for age Kingsford-Smith Cup.

“She looks well placed with that weight, so we just want to draw a gate now. I felt that was the difference between winning and losing the Kingsford Smith Cup,” Baker said.

Paul Perry’s colt Perast will also only have to carry 50kg and gained automatic entry into the Stradbroke Handicap after winning the Group 3 $150,000 Sky Racing Fred Best Classic (1350m) at Doomben last Saturday.

The Darren Weir trained Lucky Hussler has been given 56kg while Melbourne sprinter Santa Ana Lane looks nicely treated with 55.5kg and forced his way into contention for the Stradbroke Handicap with a dominant win in the Group 1 $1m Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 19 and trainer Anthony Freedman is keen to get him to the Sunshine State for the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.

“He’ll spend a few days in a paddock and then we’ll take him to Flemington and then hopefully get a flight to Brisbane,” Freedman said.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Doomben 10,000 winner English has been given 55kg along with Le Romain’s stablemate Clearly Innocent.

Group 1 Galaxy winner In Her Time was also assessed with 55kg but trainer Ben Smith announced today the mare will miss the Stradbroke Handicap and spell before being prepared for the 2018 $13m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick during the Sydney Spring Carnival.

Champagne Cuddles has been installed the $4.50 favourite for the 2018 Stradbroke Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of Impending at $5 and Le Romain at $8.

Weights for the 2018 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m)