A Stradbroke Handicap start in on the cards for Red Tracer after trainer Chris Waller drew up a revamped winter program for the four year old.
Red Tracer could start in the Stradbroke - photo © Steve Hart
Waller had originally planned to keep Red Tracer up against her own sex in the fillies and mares races over the Winter Carnival but after studying the weights for the Group 1 $1m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 9 decided that was a good option for his mare.
Red Tracer impressed Waller with a Hawkesbury barrier trial win today and will head the nominations for the 1100m Open Handicap at Rosehill on Saturday.
“The original plan was to run her in the Dane Ripper Stakes and then the Tattersall’s Tiara,” Waller said.
“The thinking is the field might be a bit weaker this year and we’d like to have a crack at the Stradbroke if it’s possible.”
The Group 2 $200,000 Patinack Farm Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) is run at Eagle Farm the week before the Stradbroke while the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) is run two weeks after the Stradbroke.
If Red Tracer makes it to Brisbane for the Stradbroke, there is still a possibility that she will stay on for the Tattersall’s Tiara.
The Dane Shadow mare has 53kg in the Stradbroke, 4kg under weight for age and is number eleven in order of entry.
Red Tracer has been placed at Group 1 level with a third in last year’s Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick behind Secret Admirer but struggled at the top level over the Autumn in Sydney.
After winning the Group 3 $125,000 De Bortoli Wines Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on March 3, Red Tracer was well beaten when ninth to Ofcourseican in the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 24.
Waller then gave her an ease up after she raced in the lead and faded to finish fifth to More Joyous in the Group 1 $400,000 Inglis Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on April 7.
With the possibility of a wet winter in Southern Queensland, Red Tracer’s imposing wet track record would also be an added attraction to bring her to Brisbane for the $1m sprint.
The four year old mare is unbeaten on wet tracks with one from one on the slow and three from three on the heavy.
Red Tracer is currently a $26 chance for the Stradbroke.
