Srikandi is yet to perform to a high standing in Group 1 feature races this season, however trainer Ciaron Maher has confirmed the four-year-old will press on to the featured Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben on June 6th.
Ciaron Maher is confident Srikandi will find the 2015 Stradbroke Handicap in peak condition. Photo: Daniel Costello
Returning for an impressive and comfortable success over a talented field in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) on April 25th, Srikandi was unable to recover after standing in the gates in the Group 1 BTC Cup (1200m), finishing eighth.
Having only managed sixth despite figuring as outright favourite in Saturday’s Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m), Maher is confident the daughter of Dubawi will find the 2015 Stradbroke Handicap in peak condition and believes she will again relish the conditions of the race, in which she finished third as a three-year-old in 2014.
“I just think the handicap conditions and the run under the belt will be better for her,” Maher told AAP
“She had a bit of a blow and she wanted to get out a fraction in the straight (in the Doomben 10,000) whereas normally she wants to lay in.
“We’ve done a blood test and a scope and we’ll see what the results are with them, but on face value she seems OK.
“She didn’t miss any work but I could have worked her a fraction harder, so I just think she will improve.”
Stamping her claims as one to watch from her very first competitive appearance, Srikandi found exceptional form over the early stages of her 2014 preparation; booking a ticket north in finishing second in The Drain Man BM70 (100m) and winning both the Brown’s Sawdust BM64 (1200m) and Carlton Draught BM70 (1200m).
The standout performer of the 2014 Brisbane Winter Carnival, Srikandi won each of the Listed Silk Stocking (1200m), Listed Juanmo Stakes (1200m) and Group 3 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m) leading into her Stradbroke Handicap third.
Srikandi has slipped noticeably in betting markets for success in Brisbane’s feature race following her two most recent starts; now available at particularly generous 2015 Stradbroke Handicap odds of $17 with Ladbrokes Australia.
