Vega the One after Stradbroke Handicap barrier draw

Morgan

5 years ago

Vega One stands alone at the head of Stradbroke Handicap betting after faring best of the big names at Tuesday night’s barrier draw for Saturday’s $1.5 million race at Eagle Farm.

The local Group 1 winner was joint $6 favourite with Wild Planet going into the draw, but tightened into $5.50 after landing gate four. With third emergency Blazejowski drawn barrier two, Vega One will most likely start from gate three – the barrier Santa Ana Lane won from three years ago.

Wild Planet eased to $6.50 after drawing 15, but his fans will be buoyed by the news half of the past 30 Stradbroke winners started from a double-digit barrier, including recent winners Under The Louvre and Impending from 13, the gate he will jump from if the emergencies don’t run.

Queensland cult figure The Harrovian ($8.50) and Victorian mare Tofane ($9) remained at their pre-draw quotes after drawing barriers 11 and 12 respectively, while local 3YO Apache Chase tightened from $12 into $11 after coming up with gate seven.

Barriers were earlier drawn for the J.J. Atkins and the inaugural The Q22, in which Zaaki remains the $1.50 favourite after drawing barrier nine of 16. Converge tightened from $3.50 to $3.30 after drawing gate five in the 14-horse J.J. Atkins, while Port Louis went the other way – $4 out to $4.60 – after landing barrier 13.