Egyptian Symbol can score upset win in 2017 Stradbroke Handicap

Jockey Glyn Schofield is giving Egyptian Symbol a great of causing an upset win in the Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Jockey Glyn Schofield is giving Egyptian Symbol, above, a great chance of causing an upset in the Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben. Photo by Steve Hart.

Jockey Glyn Schofield is giving Egyptian Symbol, above, a great chance of causing an upset in the Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Bjorn Baker trained Egyptian Symbol is at the double figure odds of $15 with Ladbrokes.com.au in early Stradbroke Handicap betting but Schofield said that the mare has the ability to knock off the more fancied runners.

“Egyptian Symbol is a great chance, without a doubt,’’ Schofield told The Daily Telegraph.

“She has ability that probably hasn’t come to the fore yet and has been knocking on the door to win a big race for quite some time. Hopefully, this is her chance.”

Egyptian Symbol is the winner of five of her seventeen starts with her best effort being a victory in the Group 3 $150,000 ICD Property Nivison (1200m) at Randwick during the 2016 Sydney Spring Carnival.

The Stratum mare has also been placed at Group 2 level with a second to Stradbroke Handicap rival In Her Time in the $200,000 China Horse Club Breeders Classic (1200m) at Randwick on February 4.

Egyptian Symbol has been around the prizemoney at her two runs this campaign with a first up fifth to Secret Agenda in the Group 1 $1m Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on May 6 followed by a second to Eckstein in the Group 3 $150,000 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1300m) at Eagle Farm on May 27.

Schofield takes over from top Kiwi jockey Opie Bosson and will be able to give Egyptian Symbol the perfect ride from barrier seven if all the five emergencies fail to gain a start.

Egyptian Symbol was also an acceptor in the Group 2 $200,000 Bundaberg Rum Dane Ripper Stakes (1350m) but has been scratched leaving stablemate Bonny O’Reilly to represent the Baker stable in the Group 2 for the fillies and mares.

Bonny O’Reilly is also the second emergency for the Stradbroke Handicap but is very unlikely to gain a late call up.

The Kris Lees trained Clearly Innocent remains the $5 favourite for the Stradbroke Handicap but Hugh Bowman will need plenty of luck from barrier fifteen in the sixteen horse field.

Bowman has established a great association with Clearly Innocent with the pair combining for wins at their last two outings in the Listed $150,000 Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) at Scone’s Metropolitan meeting on May 13 and in the Group 1 $700,000 Darley Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on May 27.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.