The Doomben track for the 2018 Stradbroke Handicap Race Day has been rated in two sections and shares a Soft 7 and a Heavy 8 classification.

Santa Ana Lane, above in blue and gold colours, is one of the main chances in the 2018 Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben. Photo by Jenny Barnes.

The official rating is a Soft 7, but an added memo tells us that the section from the 400m to the winning post is rated as a Heavy 8 following 2mm of rain in the last twenty-four hours that took the last seven days’ total rainfall to 22mm.

Racing Queensland tweeted the following statement.

“The track rating for Doomben today is Soft 7, Peno 5.9, Track Rated Heavy 8 from 400m to W/P, Rainfall: 24hrs 2mm, 7 days 22mm, Irrigation: Nil.”

The final field for the Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) remains intact with sixteen to runners to do battler while none of the five emergencies were required.

The Bjorn Baker trained three year old filly Champagne Cuddles remains the solid favourite for the Stradbroke Handicap at $4 with Ladbrokes.com.au ahead last year’s winner and Kingsford-Smith Cup winner Impending at $6.50 while the other three year old in the field Perast is the only other runner under the $10 mark at $7.

Champagne Cuddles will jump from the inside gate and Corey Brown has been given permission by the stewards to ride the filly 0.5kg over weight but she will still meet Impending, the top weight with 57.5kg, 3kg better after finishing third behind him under weight for age conditions in the Group 1 $700,000 Altus Traffic Kingsford-Smith Cup (1350m) at Doomben two weeks ago.

The Anthony Freedman trained Santa Ana Lane is another who drops nicely in the weights and will carry 55.5kg with Ben Melham in the saddle again after the five year old lumped 58.5kg to victory last start in the Group 1 $1m Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 19.

Santa Ana Lane has also drawn nicely at barrier three and has firmed into $12 overnight.