All Aged Stakes quinella English and Black Heart Bart are set for a rematch when they clash again in the Group 1 $2m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 11.
All Aged Stakes English will now head to Brisbane for the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm. Photo by Steve Hart.
Winning trainer Gai Waterhouse immediately confirmed a trip north for the Brisbane Winter Carnival with English after she claimed the Lady Trainerâs fifth Group 1 $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick last Saturday.
âShe has a winter ahead of her. She will be going to Brisbane,â Waterhouse said.
âThey will be beautiful races for her. She is racing in form, she is a top filly and showed how she put to bed the older horses.â
English and the Darren Weir trained Black Heart Bart now share the third line of betting for the Stradbroke Handicap at $7 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
The Lee and Anthony Freedman trained Malaguerra has held his spot at the top of the market order at $4.60 even though he failed to fill a place in the All Aged Stakes.
Malaguerra was sent out as the equal second favourite at $5 at his first try at weight for age but after jockey Blake Shinn relinquished the lead at the 1000m, the four year old was never in the hunt from that point and wound up sixth, four and a half lengths from the winner.
Victorian mare Azkadellia is also vying for early Stradbroke Handicap favouritism at $4.80 and will also head to Brisbane after claiming her first Group 1 with victory in the Group 1 $1m The Coolmore Legacy Stakes (1600m), formerly known as the Queen Of The Turf Stakes, at Randwick on the second day of âThe Championshipsâ on April 9.
Winning All Aged Stakes jockey Sam Clipperton was happy to sit out the back on English even though the leaders set a muddling pace, but when he switched her to the middle of the track coming over the rise, the Encosta De Lago filly really let down and claimed the lead quickly.
Black Heart Bart also came from midfield and was doing is best work over the concluding stages to cut the winning margin back to a neck.
âObviously Queensland is in the back of our minds and a race like the Stradbroke would be a great race for him,â Weir said.
Early Stradbroke Handicap market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.60 Malaguerra, $4.80 Azkadellia, $7 Black Heart Bart, English, $11 Counterattack, Fell Swoop, Music Magnate, Xtravagant, $13 Bow Creek, Delectation, $15 Ghisoni, Japonisme, $17 Artlee, Charlie Boy, First Seal, Good Project, Lumosty.