News

Three stars, one spot

31st May 2010

Courier Mail - Brent Zerafa - Sunday, 30 May 2010

THEY are striving for a berth in the Stradbroke Handicap but only one will be granted the opportunity.

Promising gallopers Border Rebel, Stryker and Catapulted are set for a showdown in the Group Two QTC Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday, with the winner to gain entry to Queensland's richest race.

All three are high up in betting for the Stradbroke, run on June 12, and head to the final qualifier on the back of devastating wins in separate states.

Country NSW sprint sensation Border Rebel, a winner of 11 races from 14 starts, including his past seven on the trot, crushed his rivals at Scone last start; talented three-year-old Stryker was a class above in the BTC Classic, while Catapulted showed exceptional speed throughout to burn off rivals in the Straight Six at Flemington.

"I would love to run him in the Stradbroke but we are not going to put him in unless he deserves his spot," Border Rebel's trainer Sue Grills said. "There is no point putting him in just to say I've had a runner in the Stradbroke, there are plenty of races if he is not up to that standard."

Border Rebel, who has 51.5kg for the Stradbroke, is facing his toughest assignment on Saturday and the QTC Cup is also uncharted waters for Grills. "I've never had a runner in a Group Two race," she said. "I think the horse genuinely deserves his chance to prove himself, we have to find out sooner or later whether he is good enough and I think he is."

Mark Kavanagh already has Whobegotyou in the Stradbroke and will add Catapulted, who placed second in the Goodwood, if he wins the QTC Cup impressively.

Stryker rocketed into Stradbroke calculations last start and Chris Waller believes he is starting to hit his straps at the right time. "There is still a little bit of improvement in him fitness wise and he appears to have taken plenty of confidence out of the last win," he said.

Stryker is well down the Stradbroke order of entry and will need to get a weight penalty to force his way into the field.

"He is ready for a crack at that level now, both his wins in Sydney have been very smart," Waller said.

Waller is preparing another strong team for the Eagle Farm meeting, with Triple Honour, who finished third to stablemate Metal Bender in the Group One Doomben Cup, in the Eagle Farm Cup; Al Nakhla in the Group One Queensland Oaks; Pressday in the Group Two Sires' Produce Stakes, and Tromso in the Daybreak Lover.

Tromso is set to line up against Stradbroke-bound three-year-old Latin News.

Trainer Gerald Ryan plans to run both Ego's Dare and Ahdashim in the QTC Cup.

Ryan is really excited about the way Ahdashim, a scratching from the Doomben meeting on Saturday, is shaping this campaign.

"He works like a superstar and I think he is a legitimate chance in the QTC Cup if we get a firm track," Ryan said.

Grand filly Melito came through her third in the 10,000 in good order and at this stage is progressing to the Stradbroke.

"For the moment there is no reason not to go ahead, but if there are any signs she has had enough I will pull the pin," Ryan said.