Australia; Think About It favored in Stradbroke Handicap

The early odds are a clear indication of the high regard afforded Think About It for the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane, Australia, on Friday evening.

The $1.99 million Stradbroke Handicap at seven furlongs is annually one of the toughest sprints of the year in Australia yet Think About It was the 2-1 favorite as of Thursday morning in a full field of 18.

Winning 8 of 9 starts will do that to a horse’s price.

Think About It won his Group 1 debut, and sixth consecutive start, in the Kingsford Smith Cup at 6 1/2 furlongs at Eagle Farm on May 27, closing from sixth in a field of 16 to win by a half-length over Converge, a 7-1 chance in the Stradbroke Handicap.

Think About It, trained by Joseph Pride, has won his eight races at distances ranging from six to 6 1/2 furlongs, and will start at seven furlongs for the first time in the Stradbroke Handicap.

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The additional distance is unlikely to pose a major issue for the 4-year-old Think About It who is versatile enough to lead, but frequently races from off the pace.

Converge and Hawaii Five Oh (9-2) are rated as the two most likely chances for an upset. Hawaii Five Oh, a Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old, has won his last two starts in Group 3 races at seven furlongs and will have his Group 1 debut in the Stradbroke Handicap.

Trained by Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse, Hawaii Five Oh is another runner who races from off the pace.

The Stradbroke Handicap is part of a nine-race program that includes two other major stakes. Racing begins at 9:43 p.m. Eastern or 6:43 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The Bott-Waterhouse team have the favorite for the Group 1 J.J. Atkins Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds at a mile with the filly Azula.

Azula has raced three times and won her last two starts, including a nose win in the Phoenix Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs at Eagle Farm on June 3 in which she was near the front throughout and held on.

Tannhauser, who races from off the pace, will be well-supported on the strength of a win in a seven-furlong handicap at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on May 27 in his fourth start. Tannhauser is trained by Chris Waller and will be ridden by James McDonald. They lead their respective categories in earnings this season in Australia.

The $665,600 Atkins drew a field of 17.

Without A Fight, a four-time stakes winner in Britain and Australia, will be favored in a field of 14 in the Group 2 Q22 Stakes at 1 3/8 miles. The field includes 2022 race winner Numerian.

Without A Fight, trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, won for the first time in Australia in his third start in the country in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup at 1 1/8 miles at Eagle Farm on May 27 in his 2023 debut.

Without A Fight was 13th in the famous Group 1 Melbourne Cup last November.

Numerian, 19th in the 2022 Melbourne Cup, gave trainer Annabel Neasham her second consecutive win in the Q22 Stakes last year.

Numerian is winless in eight starts since the 2022 Q22 Stakes, and was second to Huetor in the Group 1 Doomben Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Doomben Racecourse on May 20.

Huetor is rated as a contender in the $798,700 Q22 Stakes.

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