133 horses remain in contention for the Brisbane Winter Carnival’s biggest prize following this morning’s release of 2017 Stradbroke Handicap nominations.
Black Heart Bart ran a close second in the 2016 edition of the feature race and leads an outstanding contingent of eleven horses included in 2017 Stradbroke Handicap nominations by master trainer Darren Weir.
A former Perth galloper, Black Heart Bart has undoubtedly found career-best form since transferring to the care of Weir prior to the 2016 Autumn Carnival and has subsequently posted five wins at Group 1 level.
Resuming this year for second in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m), the Blackfriars gelding savaged the line for a smart win in the Group 1 Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes (1400m) and was last seen repeating that effort in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m).
Black Heart Bart is set for an appearance in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville in a fortnight, ahead of likely progression to the Stradbroke Handicap.
Weir’s other Stradbroke Handicap nominations include horses like Mahuta, Sooboog and Voodoo Lad.
Unlucky not to have posted a maiden win at the highest level, Mahuta has undoubtedly been at his best in races over 1400m and should prove tough to beat in the Stradbroke Handicap, should he find his best form.
Capping his first year under the care of Weir with a smart win in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m), Sooboog has steadily built to the task through two starts this time and finished sixth in the Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes (1100m) last time out.
Voodoo Lad has returned to racing in typically smart form this time and should prove tough to beat under the conditions of the Stradbroke Handicap.
Resuming for a close second in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m), the I Am Invincible gelding progressed to a credible fifth in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) before a luckless run for seventh in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) last time out.
Godolphin Australia have been well represented in the Group 1 feature through recent seasons and they are again set to saddle runners after trainer John O’Shea lodged five Stradbroke Handicap nominations, including Impending and Morton’s Fork.
Impending has produced a number of outstanding results for Godolphin since making his debut in 2016; finishing outside the first three on only three of ten occasions.
Running fourth in the talent-rich Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) on March 4th, the Lonhro colt has since placed third in each of the Group 3 Star Kingdom Stakes (1200m) and Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint (1200m).
Morton’s Fork was sent to the paddock after failing to fire in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) on March 4th, but has trialled particularly well in the lead-up to his winter return.
Fell Swoop and English are two horses that are set to figure prominently during the Brisbane Winter Carnival and have both been included in 2017 Stradbroke Handicap nominations.
Fell Swoop is another horse who has been unlucky not to win at Group 1 level and the sprinter should be in sharp condition by the time he takes his place in the Stradbroke Handicap field.
Having required a couple of runs to find peak condition upon resuming this time, the Not A Single Doubt gelding ran well to finish third in the TJ Smith Stakes last time out.
English appeared to have won the TJ Smith Stakes until she was swooped in the dying stages of the race by Chautauqua, and will head to Brisbane following an appearance in Saturday’s Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) in Adelaide.
2017 Stradbroke Handicap Nominations
# | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 314181458x | ADDICTIVE HABIT (NZ) | G | 7 | Lee Somervell |
2 | x00021524x | AKAVOROUN | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher |
3 | 1x111x5 | ALL OVER BOSANOVA | F | 3 | Mel Eggleston |
4 | 520x21x137 | ARTISTRY | M | 5 | Peter & Paul Snowden |
5 | 0210x5240x | ATTENTION | C | 3 | Peter & Paul Snowden |
6 | 63x211150x | BANDA SPICE | M | 4 | Stuart Kendrick |
7 | 3x242x111x | BASSETT (NZ) | G | 4 | Mick Price |
8 | 318x12302x | BETTER LAND | H | 5 | Toby Edmonds |
9 | 025x75420x | BIG MONEY | G | 7 | Rodney Northam |
10 | 12129x211x | BLACK HEART BART | G | 6 | Darren Weir |
11 | 11x6211x | BONNY O’REILLY (NZ) | M | 4 | Bjorn Baker |
12 | 345xL760x8 | BROOK ROAD | M | 6 | Kris Lees |
13 | 6241111141 | BURNING FRONT | G | 6 | Darren Weir |
14 | 2x131x10 | CALANDA | G | 3 | Peter & Paul Snowden |
15 | 3016126x9x | CAVALOCE | M | 6 | Will Clarken |
16 | 2x44224x2x | CHARNLEY RIVER | C | 3 | Stuart Kendrick |
17 | 1111x640x9 | CLEARLY INNOCENT | G | 5 | Kris Lees |
18 | 0x048286x4 | COOLRING | G | 6 | Bjorn Baker |
19 | 7x2602x802 | COUNTERATTACK | H | 4 | Chris Waller |
20 | 600x21172x | DAL CIELO (NZ) | G | 4 | Kris Lees |
21 | 359x47350x | DANISH TWIST | M | 5 | Kris Lees |
22 | 16x | DELAWAR | H | 4 | David Vandyke |
23 | 44434×2407 | DENMAGIC | M | 4 | David Pfieffer |
24 | 2612x1111x | DEPLOY | G | 4 | Gerald Ryan |
25 | 037x43181x | DERRYN | C | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
26 | 21311×4207 | DIVINE CENTURI | M | 4 | Stuart Kendrick |
27 | x2x411113x | ECKSTEIN | F | 3 | Kurt Goldman |
28 | 236x15162x | EGYPTIAN SYMBOL | M | 4 | Bjorn Baker |
29 | 1x477x2504 | EL DIVINO | C | 3 | Darren Weir |
30 | 11147x165x | ELEGANT COMPOSURE | M | 5 | Chris Anderson |
31 | x5470x1726 | ENGLISH | M | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
32 | 16225×7200 | FAATINAH | G | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
33 | 1410110×01 | FABRIZIO | G | 5 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
34 | 42x23343x6 | FEDERAL | G | 5 | John O’Shea |
35 | 6x323x663x | FELL SWOOP | G | 5 | Matthew Dale |
36 | 8x122x7 | FRANCE | C | 3 | Peter & Paul Snowden |
37 | 5x111410x | FUHRYK | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
38 | 84x013421x | GOLD SYMPHONY | G | 4 | Peter & Paul Snowden |
39 | x377x0472x | GOOD PROJECT | H | 5 | Chris Waller |
40 | 433x1136x6 | GRUNDERZEIT | G | 5 | John O’Shea |
41 | x1x14x3207 | GUARD OF HONOUR | C | 3 | Kris Lees |
42 | 1x2411011x | HALL OF FAME (NZ) | C | 3 | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards |
43 | x0192x519x | HEAR THE CHANT | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
44 | 46x11470x6 | HEART STARTER | G | 4 | Darren Weir |
45 | x1323x224x | HEROIC VALOUR | C | 3 | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards |
46 | 7x6x231102 | HERRSCHAFT | G | 5 | Gerard Betros |
47 | 1134x3119x | HEY DOC | G | 3 | Tony McEvoy |
48 | 40x112x | HONOUR’N’STRENGTH | G | 3 | Melissa Leitch |
49 | 0x70x9x201 | HOOKED | H | 6 | Robert Smerdon |
50 | x4062538x2 | HOPFGARTEN | G | 6 | Robert Heathcote |
51 | 6×1126 | I THOUGHT SO | C | 3 | David Pfieffer |
52 | 3314x6433x | IMPENDING | C | 3 | John O’Shea |
53 | 205x11115x | IN HER TIME | M | 4 | Benjamin Smith |
54 | 2018235265 | IN HIS STRIDE | G | 4 | Rex Lipp |
55 | x4x21111x1 | INVINCIBLE EXPRESS | M | 4 | David Vandyke |
56 | x6039x6509 | JAPONISME | G | 4 | Chris Waller |
57 | 34028×5313 | JUNGLE EDGE | G | 6 | Mick Bell |
58 | 0x3021x875 | KAEPERNICK | G | 5 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
59 | 013x70x310 | KELLYVILLE FLYER | M | 7 | Jason Attard |
60 | 1124×2212 | KEN’S DREAM | C | 3 | Darren Weir |
61 | 511432×532 | LAND OFFICE | G | 5 | Steele Ryan |
62 | 0x10x3815x | LE CORDON BLEU | G | 6 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
63 | 0x411351x3 | LUCKY LIBERTY | G | 5 | Henry Dwyer |
64 | 041x60x100 | LUCKY TOM | G | 5 | Harold Norman |
65 | 110x13540x | MACKINTOSH (NZ) | G | 4 | Chris Waller |
66 | x0527x121x | MADOTTI | M | 4 | Matthew Dunn |
67 | 110x3630x9 | MAHUTA | H | 4 | Darren Weir |
68 | 98x9310x21 | MALIBU STYLE | G | 5 | Neville Parnham |
69 | 415452112x | MAN OF HIS WORD | G | 4 | Bruce W Hill |
70 | 1x6x4339x | MANAYA | F | 3 | Michael Costa |
71 | 1746×2115 | MILWAUKEE | G | 3 | Michael Moroney |
72 | 741x4300x3 | MISS COVER GIRL | M | 5 | Kelly Schweida |
73 | x227x430x1 | MISS GUNPOWDER | M | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
74 | x1521x540x | MORTON’S FORK | C | 3 | John O’Shea |
75 | x1210x1501 | MUSIC MAGNATE (NZ) | G | 5 | Bjorn Baker |
76 | 04x11912x1 | MYSTIC OPAL | M | 4 | Chris Anderson |
77 | 115x | NEW UNIVERSE (NZ) | G | 3 | Chris Waller |
78 | 345x1224x5 | NUDIERUDIE | M | 4 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
79 | 163211419x | OAK DOOR | C | 3 | Robert Smerdon |
80 | 14124x94x7 | OLD NORTH | G | 4 | John O’Shea |
81 | 352x2744x4 | PAINTE | G | 5 | Joseph Pride |
82 | 0x6120210x | PERFECT DARE | G | 4 | Matthew Dunn |
83 | x14240x122 | PRIVLAKA | G | 4 | Robert Heathcote |
84 | 3x3121x11x | RADIPOLE (IRE) | G | 4 | Michael Moroney |
85 | 10x54219x7 | RAGEESE | H | 4 | Darren Weir |
86 | 236710x99x | REBEL DANE | H | 7 | Gary Portelli |
87 | 148x51319x | REIBY RAMPART | M | 4 | Jason Attard |
88 | x32218116x | RELIGIFY | G | 6 | Chris Waller |
89 | 9655345×91 | RHYTHM TO SPARE (NZ) | G | 7 | Michael Moroney |
90 | 0759623234 | ROUND MOUNTAIN GAL | M | 5 | Philip Kimmet |
91 | 0x61324x14 | ROYAL TUDOR | G | 4 | Rodney Ollerton |
92 | 324314x64x | RUETTIGER (NZ) | G | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
93 | 11114x16x | RUSSIAN REVOLUTION | C | 3 | Peter & Paul Snowden |
94 | 969x0x041x | SAGARONNE | M | 4 | Toby Edmonds |
95 | 341x17731x | SAVANNA AMOUR | F | 3 | John Meagher |
96 | x30380x95x | SAVOUREUX | M | 5 | Kris Lees |
97 | 38338×4614 | SEBRING SUN | H | 4 | Darren Weir |
98 | 24x167x51x | SECRET AGENDA | M | 4 | Mick Price |
99 | x12147x311 | SEVENTH UP (NZ) | G | 6 | Shelley Hale |
100 | 21152x146x | SHEIDEL | M | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
101 | 51024×9401 | SHILLELAGH (NZ) | M | 5 | Chris Waller |
102 | 231x21214x | SILENT SEDITION | M | 4 | Andrew Noblet |
103 | 0x145167x8 | SIR BACCHUS | G | 4 | Chris Waller |
104 | 3x0x091020 | SIR MOMENTS | G | 6 | Steven O’dea |
105 | 545x24335x | SNIPPETS LAND | G | 6 | Peter & Paul Snowden |
106 | 425531120x | SNOOPY | G | 4 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
107 | x68x23059x | SOLD FOR SONG | M | 4 | Kevin Kemp |
108 | 1153429×65 | SONY LEGEND | G | 6 | Brian Smith |
109 | 2020541×06 | SOOBOOG | H | 4 | Darren Weir |
110 | 948x23276x | SOVEREIGN NATION | G | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
111 | 1x21x | SPLURGE (NZ) | G | 4 | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards |
112 | 3x111x3848 | SPRIGHT | F | 3 | Garry Frazer |
113 | x6x191212x | START WONDERING (NZ) | G | 6 | Evan & J J Rayner |
114 | x348x8635x | STRAWBERRY BOY | G | 8 | Matthew Dunn |
115 | 3761 | STREETS BETTER | C | 3 | Bryan & Daniel Guy |
116 | 36x143x18x | SUPER CASH | M | 4 | Andrew Noblet |
117 | 32x147x46x | SYLPHEED | F | 3 | Toby Edmonds |
118 | 24x111138x | TACTICAL ADVANTAGE | G | 3 | James Cummings |
119 | 2021257×18 | TAILLEVENT | G | 4 | Bruce W Hill |
120 | x112516x84 | TAKEDOWN | G | 4 | Gary Moore |
121 | 121386618x | THE MONSTAR | G | 6 | Brett Cavanough |
122 | 1613x66x | THE VIRGINIAN | G | 4 | Toby Edmonds |
123 | 82161113×9 | THUNDER RAIDER | F | 3 | Darleen Duryea |
124 | 2152427428 | TOO GOOD TO REFUSE | H | 4 | Desleigh Forster |
125 | 4873x30x98 | TRUBIA | H | 5 | Michael Lakey |
126 | 0x11412x05 | TYCOON TARA | M | 6 | Peter & Paul Snowden |
127 | x21152136x | ULMANN | G | 5 | Darren Weir |
128 | 1111x9171x | VEGA MAGIC | G | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
129 | 1276x22x21 | VIDDORA | M | 4 | Lloyd Kennewell |
130 | 35x132715x | VOLPINO | G | 3 | Les Kelly |
131 | 311210×257 | VOODOO LAD | G | 5 | Darren Weir |
132 | 42213×1932 | WAR HERO | G | 3 | Toby Edmonds |
133 | 818x587x8x | YESTERDAY’S SONGS | G | 6 | Michael Moroney |