Lumosty 1st emergency in final Stradbroke Handicap field

Brilliant Melbourne filly Lumosty has missed out on making the final field for the Group 1 $2m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday after being listed as the first emergency.

Lumosty is first emergency for the Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

Lumosty is first emergency for the Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

The inclusion in the final field of smart Kiwi sprinter El Roca and the speedy Lord Of The Sky who earlier in the week had been listed as doubtful runners has meant that the ruling favourite, Lumosty, was pushed out of the final sixteen, making her the first of five emergencies.

The Robert Smerdon trained filly will need a scratching between now and Saturday morning to secure a run in the $2m Winter Carnival showpiece.

If Lumosty fails to get a late call up Smerdon said that the Fastnet Rock filly will run against the fillies and the mares in the  Group 2 $300,000 Best Security Dane Ripper Stakes (1350m) on the same program.

The Chris Waller trained and Doomben 10,000 winner Boban heads the Stradbroke Handicap field with 58kg and the leading Sydney trainer will also be represented by three year old Delectation and third emergency Flamingo Star.

The Stradbroke Handicap final acceptors: Boban, Hot Snitzel, Sacred Star, Srikandi, Smokin’ Joey, Generalife, Temple of Boom, Lord Of The Sky, Charlie Boy, Knoydart, Delectation, Big Money, Black Heart Bart, Fontelina, El Roca and Fast N Rocking. Emergencies: Lumosty 1st, Rock Sturdy, 2nd Flamingo Star, 3rd Riva De Lago, 4th and Tried and Tired is 5th.

The Peter Moody trained Bring Me the Maid missed out on making the emergency list and will start in the Dane Ripper Stakes.

Lumosty has been racing in brilliant form with two runaway wins down the Flemington straight in the in the $80,000 All Victorian Sprint Series Heat 2 (1100m) on May 9 and in the Listed $120,000 The Straight Six (1200m) on May 23.

Trainer Robbie Laing has originally indicated that Lord Of The Sky wouldn’t run in the Stradbroke Handicap when he thought the track was going to be rain affected but with the beautiful sunny Brisbane weather drying the track out, decided to head north.

“We were sort of reluctant to go last week and it got a little bit confusing,” Laing told Racing HQ.

“I thought it was going to be wet, and he would have been able to race on speed, most of the field would come out ten wide and further and I thought if the track was chopped to pieces the on pace horses are really disadvantaged because the back markers get out into the better going.

“If the weather is going to be fine all week, it could be a terrific track.”

“He is quite adept on good ground.”

Peter and Paul Snowden will have two runners, BTC Cup winner Hot Snitzel and Doomben 10,000 runner up Charlie Boy while the Godolphin blue will be seen on the John O’Shea trained Generalife and Knoydart.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.