Chris Waller-trained Masthead missed out on a run in the 2014 Stradbroke Handicap last weekend, but will have an opportunity to return to winning form in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) at Ipswich on Saturday.
Masthead will take on the likes of Steel Zip in the 2014 Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich on Saturday. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Masthead returned to Australian racing, after a two-year-stint in Singapore, at the start of this year and has impressed in all of his three race starts under the care of Waller.
The Written Tycoon gelding made his debut for his new stable with a fast-finishing third in the Hawkesbury Rush (1100m) on May 3 and finished within a length of Mighty Lucky in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) at Scone on May 17.
Masthead (barrier 12) was sent to Queensland for the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival and finished an unlucky second behind Sacred Star in the Group 2 QTC Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on May 31 and narrowly missed out on a start in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) after being named as the first emergency.
The five-year-old has scored just four wins from 35 starts during his racing career, but may not have a better opportunity to score his first race victory in over a year when he carries just 56.5 kilograms in the Eye Liner Stakes on Saturday.
Alma’s Fury (barrier four) will carry the top weight of 59 kilograms in the Eye Liner Stakes after returning to the races with a seventh place finish in the QTC Cup, while Steel Zip (barrier 13) and Black Cash (barrier one) will also be backing up from the Group 2 event.
Phelan Ready was set to contest the QTC Cup, but refused to enter the barriers and was scratched from the race.
The veteran gelding was instead given a tune up in a barrier trial at Deagon on June 5, but has not scored a race win since his memorable triumph in the 2009 edition of the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m).
Into The Red (barrier two) is another horse that missed out on a start in the Stradbroke Handicap that will be running in the Eye Liner Stakes and trainer Kelso Wood will be hoping that the Not A Single Doubt colt can return to his best form after beating home just a single runner in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31.
Startsmeup (barrier seven), Jetset Lad (barrier six), Regular (barrier nine), Ellawisdom (barrier three), Qfighter (barrier two), Playitstraight (barrier 11) and Billy Aucash (barrier five) have also been included in the 2014 Eye Liner Stakes field.
