Trainer Gerald Ryan has confirmed there has been no change of heart and Deploy will not run in the Stradbroke Handicap.
The four-year-old won Saturday’s Group Two Moreton Cup (1200m) at Doomben but will not be asked to back up seven days later.
Deploy’s owner John Cornish decided against paying up at last week’s Stradbroke acceptance stage and with a $45,000 late entry fee, the four-year-old will head to his original target, the Healy Stakes.
Sydney trainer Bjorn Baker is hoping for a re-handicap to get Bonny O’Reilly into the Group One field which will be restricted to 16 rather than 18 because of the switch from Eagle Farm to Doomben.
Baker is keen to keep the mare’s momentum going after her win in Saturday’s Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes at Doomben and is hoping she gets a penalty.
“I’d like to think she could get a run so it will be interesting to see what the handicapper does,” Baker said.
“If not we may look at the Dane Ripper also next week as a lead-in to the Tatt’s Tiara.”
Bonny O’Reilly is undefeated in three starts this campaign and has won her past five starts to take her record to seven wins from nine starts.
Her last defeat was in November when she ran second to In Her Time who will be among her Stradbroke rivals if she makes the field.
Bonny O’Reilly is 25th on the ballot order with her stablemate Egyptian Symbol safely in the field.
Trainer Chris Waller has three horses in the mix – Counterattack, Good Project and Mackintosh.
Counterattack ran third in the Kingsford Smith Cup won by Stradbroke favourite Clearly Innocent and will be having his final start before he is retired to stand at his birthplace, Kitchwin Hills Stud.
Good Project and Mackintosh have not raced since late last year but both pleased the stable in a raceday gallop at Rosehill on Saturday and will head to the Stradbroke.
