Group 1 winner Pear Tart appears unlikely to take her place in Saturday week’s $1.36 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) after being sold as part of the Patinack Farm reduction on Wednesday.

Pear Tart is unlikely to run in the Stradbroke. Photo by: Daniel Costello.

At 16th in the order of entry for the Stradbroke, the five-year-old is guaranteed a start but bloodstock agent Adrian Nicol suggested her racing days are over after securing the mare for $675,000.

“I’d say she will probably be retired and it’s highly unlikely she will race on,” Nicol told News Limited.

“She will probably go to Pierro.”

Pear Tart has raced 18 times, producing six wins including once at Group 1 level in last year’s Tattersall’s Tiara.

With the daughter of Dehere unlikely to line up in Queensland’s most prestigious race, a prized place in the field is set to open up.

Arinosa and Belltone currently occupy positions 17 and 18 in the ballot and Pear Tart’s likely omission reduces the risk of them being forced out this weekend.

While there are 18 spots up for grabs in the Stradbroke field, the winners of Saturday’s Queensland Guineas and QTC Cup are exempt from the ballot.

A win by Belltone’s stablemate Sizzling in the Queensland Guineas wouldn’t impact his position, as he is already guaranteed a start. Other horses running this weekend assured of of a Stradbroke place are QTC Cup fancies Hot Snitzel and Decision Time.

However, there are a host of horses who are looking to win their way into the field.

Queensland Guineas runners still vying for a Stradbroke start include Academus, Complicate, Boban, Ferment and Reflectance.

Those pressing Stradbroke claims in the QTC Cup are Latin News, Conservatorium, Mahisara, Miss Stellabelle and Smokin’ Joey.