Queensland’s biggest race day arrives this Saturday with Eagle Farm hosting Ladbrokes Stradbroke Day.
The track is currently rated Soft 7, and continued rainfall is expected to keep conditions in the affected range.
All nine races on the program hold black-type status, highlighted by the $3 million Group 1 Ladbrokes Stradbroke Handicap. Headley Grange heads betting markets following his Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup victory.
The Group 1 J.J. Atkins will feature the leading two-year-olds, while the Group 2 Q22 sees Half Yours, Pride Of Jenni and She’s A Hustler clash in a high-quality staying contest.
With testing ground expected, proven wet-track performers should hold a clear edge.
Prepared by the McEvoy stable, YELLOW JERSEY (2) brings high-quality European form into his Australian debut.
The four-year-old gelding has won three of four starts and was tested at Group 2 level in the Prix Du Conseil De Paris, where he set the pace before being run down late to finish just over a half-length third behind Convergent and Dubai Honour.
That form is particularly strong given Dubai Honour’s multiple Australian Group 1 wins.
He has since won a Sunshine Coast trial on heavy ground in effortless fashion, and with Mark Zahra to ride from a favourable draw, he looks ideally placed.
| 2. Yellow Jersey (4) J: Mark Zahra 59kg 11x3x T: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy |
The Team Hayes-trained MARFFIANO (1) showed immediate ability winning the Ladbrokes Vobis Gold Rush at Bendigo on debut.
He settled just behind the speed before finishing off strongly to win by half a length.
At his latest appearance in the Magic Millions National 2YO Classic, he settled at the rear from a wide barrier and finished fifth behind The Next Episode, a run that had merit given the circumstances.
Now third-up, he should strip fitter and can take up a more prominent position with Mark Zahra aboard.
| 1. Marffiano (4) J: Mark Zahra 57kg 15 T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
From the Waterhouse & Bott yard, BELLA MONTAGNA (7) comes through the Group 3 Premier’s Cup where she produced a standout performance.
She finished a head second to Alalcance over 2400m, was in front 50 metres past the line, and the third horse was nearly six lengths away.
Importantly, she now meets the winner 3kg better at the weights.
Although stepping to two miles for the first time, her dominant wet-track win over 2400m at Randwick suggests she will handle the rise in distance.
Rachel King is expected to secure a soft run.
| 7. Bella Montagna (1) J: Rachel King 53kg 1×242 T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
Bjorn Baker’s WITHIN THE LAW (10) returned in strong fashion when resuming in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic.
After settling back from a wide gate, she produced the fastest final 600m of the race to finish 1.75 lengths from the winner in third.
She strips fitter second-up and is better suited stepping up to 1600m, having previously finished 1.18 lengths second in the Group 1 Flight Stakes.
From a kinder barrier, Tommy Berry can position her closer in running.
| 10. Within The Law (2) J: Tommy Berry 55kg 7x5x3 T: Bjorn Baker |
Trained by Chris & Corey Munce, PAYLINE (1) gets his chance to return to winning form dropping back from Group company.
He hasn’t won since the 2025 Magic Millions Syndicate, but his recent efforts suggest he is close.
In the Group 2 Victory Stakes two starts ago, he finished 1.71 lengths second after being run down late by Splash Back on a rain-affected surface.
Those conditions suit him again here, and despite carrying a big weight, the booking of Nash Rawiller is a key positive.
| 1. Payline (8) J: Nash Rawiller 60kg 2×320 T: Chris & Corey Munce |
The Moody & Coleman-trained SHE’S GOT PIZZAZZ (8) looks well placed following her last-start effort in the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes.
She stormed home from a long way back to finish a neck second, building on her previous win in the Silk Stocking over 1400m at the Gold Coast.
The drop back to 1300m looks suitable, and the expected rain-affected conditions are in her favour.
With Mark Zahra retaining the ride, she should be able to settle off the speed and finish strongly.
| 8. She’s Got Pizzazz (6) J: Mark Zahra 57kg 53812 T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
Chris Waller trains TRON BOLT (4), who appears well suited stepping up to 1600m following two dominant victories.
At Kensington over 1400m, he was held up before accelerating sharply to score by 2.95 lengths.
He followed that with a commanding 1.86-length win on a heavy Rosehill track, reinforcing his credentials at this level.
The rise to a mile looks ideal, and he comes into this race at peak fitness.
James McDonald has the booking.
| 4. Tron Bolt (8) J: James McDonald 57kg 311 T: Chris Waller |
Joe Pride’s ESTADIO MESTALLA (11) shapes as a competitive chance at odds in the Stradbroke Handicap.
He resumed before finishing fourth in the Listed Luskin Star Stakes at Scone, beaten 2.46 lengths, making good late ground.
He has a strong third-up profile and has completed two trials in preparation for this assignment.
Blinkers are reapplied, having previously produced a 1.49-length win at Randwick over this distance when leading throughout.
Chad Schofield is expected to settle him in a forward position.
| 11. Estadio Mestalla (9) J: Chad Schofield 53.5kg 22×64 T: Joseph Pride |
With conditions expected to suit, HALF YOURS (1) shapes as a key contender in the Group 2 Q22, particularly stepping out to 2200m on a rain-affected track.
Prepared by Tony & Calvin McEvoy, the gelding’s latest effort in the Group 1 Doomben Cup was better than it reads after a tactical decision to improve along the back straight compromised his finishing chances.
Despite that, he continued on evenly to finish fourth, beaten 4.18 lengths, with Vauban narrowly ahead.
He now reaches the fourth-up stage of his preparation, a point where he has previously produced peak performances, including his Group 1 Caulfield Cup victory last campaign.
Track conditions are also favourable, having recorded a win on his only heavy track outing, alongside four wins from seven appearances on soft going.
| 1. Half Yours (7) J: Jamie Melham 59kg 1×944 T: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy |