Fine weather, a favourable barrier draw and a fit racehorse are the ingredients Grahame Begg says can give him a first win in the Stradbroke Handicap.
Begg has finished second twice in the Group 1 1400m handicap and third once and believes Cardinal Gem can break that drought at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Cardinal Gem drew barrier six and will come in two spots if the emergencies do not gain a start, a far cry from barrier 16 the gelding started from when third in the Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben on May 20, his first run in Brisbane.
“He only flew up on the Tuesday before his first run and didn’t get into late, so he only had a couple of days to settle in,” Begg said.
“He settled in nicely, but once they’ve been there a while and got used to the different surroundings, he’s been much better.
“He went to Eagle Farm last week for a gallop and followed up again on Tuesday with his last piece of work and I couldn’t be happier with him.
“It won’t be an easy race. It’s a very good field as you would expect for a $3 million race, but it’s a handicap which makes it very exciting.”
Cardinal Gem made his Queensland debut on a soft track, but the weather is expected to be fine for the remainder of the week with a good-rated surface.
The gelding is yet to win in eight starts on firmer ground and has placed just twice, but Begg is not concerned by a good track and believes Cardinal Gem will excel on it.
Begg said Cardinal Gem’s form had improved as the gelding got more racing under the belt, which coincided with him striking a number of yet tracks.
“His form has really developed over the last 12 months,” Begg said.
“I think he’s better on top of the ground, but one thing he’s got is that he can get through the heavy.”
Jockey Jordan Childs partnered Cardinal Gem in his last piece of work at Eagle Farm on Tuesday and has remained in Queensland to have himself in peak condition for the ride on the $11 chance on Saturday.
Think About It heads Stradbroke betting at $3.10 ahead of Hawaii Five Oh ($5) and Ruthless Dame ($9).
