SNIPPETS FROM THE STRADBROKE BARRIER DRAW

By Darren Winningham | Friday, June 10, 2016

MALAGUERRA

Bruno Micalizzi the owner of Malaguerra, thinks the horse is a serious threat in the Stradbroke setting up at his shot at a second Group 1 race win within a month.

The horse, who will be ridden by Hugh Bowman, was drawn second last in the barrier draw and Bruno only had two cups to choose from. Prior to the draw he said “I want to draw inside 6” so with only barriers and 5 and 9 left to choose he had a 50/50 chance.

After drawing barrier 9 for the 2016 AAMI Stradbroke Micalizzi said, “The horse barrier trialled well the other day and is looking good for the race.” The trial at the Gold Coast was over 1000 metres and Malaguerra was ridden by Glen Colless who won on him in the Group One BTC Cup.

“If we get out of the barrier nice and get some luck in running we will be in the finish,” said Micalizzi.

Trained by Lee and Anthony Freedman and coming off a win in the Doomben BTC Cup when running 1.08.730, dropping 2.5 kilograms in this field and having won two times over 1400m including a solid win over the Melbourne Cup Carnival ... the horse sure has strong claims to be in the finish.

TAKEDOWN

David Moore, son of the excitable Gary Moore who trains the horse, was present to draw barrier 11 in the big race.
“We know that Takedown is a pacey individual and should be up in the lead somewhere,” said Moore. “The horse has thrived since arriving and being stabled at the Gold Coast.”

Jason Taylor, who has previous luck in the Stradbroke picking up the winning ride on Sincero in 2011. has been booked to ride Takedown.

Takedown won the Gold Coast Guineas and then finished second to Counterattack, who has been well backed in the Stradbroke, in the Fred Best Classic .

“I don’t think that they will be going the speed they did in the Doomben 10,000, I think if someone wants to lead we will be happy to sit behind where we are comfortable and I know with that kind of weight we will be there for a long, long time,” added Moore.

When asked about his father’s hat that he threw into the crowd at the Gold Coast after the Gold Coast Guineas win, Moore said “I have bought him a new hat but I am not sure whether to give it to him?

“Look I know my father is a character and he is great for racing, but I have another hat just in case that one does go into the crowd this weekend. In fact dad may just jump on the horse and sit on it if it wins”.

That would be a unique sight to see at Eagle Farm!

AZKADELLIA

The horse is owned by Ciaron Mahers’ racing manger Ben Connolly and he was happy drawing barrier 5.

“The barrier is not a big issue for her as she generally gets back in her racing” said Maher.

Azkadellia was a sensation at the Breakfast with the Stars held on Tuesday morning at Eagle Farm. It is coming off a slashing second to Music Magnate in the Doomben 10,000 two weeks ago. It will have the services of veteran jockey Damien Oliver who has tasted success in the Stradbroke on River Lad in 2014 the last time the race was held at Eagle Farm.

In relation to the jockey Maher was happy to have, “Olly back on as he knows her very well and has a good record on her”.

BRAD RAWILLER AND TEAM DARREN WEIR

A big chance this weekend for this Australia wide successful partnership to dominate the Super Saturday Stradbroke day at Eagle Farm.

Real Love is in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup. Rawiller said “that she is going great form and is doing well up here and is racing in great heart. It is a bit awkward she has drawn barrier 10, she makes her own luck and puts herself in a position, but from that gate it could be a bit sticky,”

Real Love comes off two consecutive wins since arriving in Queensland winning the Group 3 JRA Cup and Group 3 Premier’s Cup impressively at Doomben in her last two starts.

Howard Be Thy Name goes around in the Group 1 Channel 7 Queensland Derby and has drawn well in barrier 2. He seemed to just be winding up late in his latest run at Doomben over 2200 metres in the Grand Prix Stakes (Group 3). The extra 200 metres and the long Eagle Farm straight should suit the colt.

Rawiller seemed to be excited about the chances. “He was super last run. He has drawn 2 and his run the other day was just perfect for the Derby”.

Rawiller did the draw for Black Heart Bart in the Stradbroke. He drew barrier 10.

“I wanted to draw inside 10 so I suppose it is not that bad,” mused Rawiller.

The horse was flown from the Weir stable in Warrnambool on Wednesday morning to Brisbane and taken to the Sunshine Coast where the Weir team has been based for the Brisbane Winter Carnival.

Rawiller doesn’t think the barrier is a problem.

“There is good speed in the race and he is in great order,” said Rawiller. “With the good speed in the race I will probably push forward early so he can hold his position.

“I don’t really have one hardest to beat – it’s a Group 1 they are all here to win and I won’t be singling out one.”

Black Heart Bart is coming off a great win in the time honoured Group 1 Goodwood race at Morphettville where Rawiller partnered him powering home late at destroying the opposition over 1200 metres.

The horse has wonderful record over 1400metres with 5 wins and 3 seconds.

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