Brilliant Melbourne filly Lumosty has jumped to the top of the market order for the Group 1 $2m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday following the shock withdrawal of Najoom.
Lumosty is the new favourite for the Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben. Photo by Adrienne Bicknell.
The Robert Smerdon trained Lumosty is now the $5 favourite with Ladbrokes.com.au for Queensland’s premier sprint but is still not guaranteed a start in the Stradbroke Handicap but is creeping slowly up the order for entry.
The news that Najoom won’t be running opens up one more space while last Saturday’s QTC Cup winner Ball Of Muscle is not confirmed a starter even though the Joe Pride trained sprinter is exempt from the ballet because of that win.
Lumosty will still need a couple more horses listed above her in the order of entry not to accept for her to gain one of the last spots in the sixteen horse field.
The Gai Waterhouse trained Najoom was only last week listed among the entries for the Stradbroke Handicap after connections paid a $30,000 late entry fee following her sensational win in the Group 3 $125,000 Sita Australia Fred Best Classic (1350m) at Doomben on May 23.
But Waterhouse notified Racing Queensland stewards on Sunday that the Northern Meteor filly had not completely recovered from a slight injury sustained last week and would not be running in the Brisbane Winter Carnival’s premier race.
Racing Queensland released the following statement on Sunday: “Racing Queensland Stewards advise trainer Mrs Gai Waterhouse informed them this morning (Sunday) that Najoom had not fully recovered from the injury she sustained last Sunday and will not be racing in this Saturday’s Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben.”
Lumosty has been brilliant in her two wins at down the Flemington straight this campaign scoring by three lengths in the $80,000 All Victorian Sprint Series Heat 2 over 1100m on May 9 followed by a two and three quarter lengths victory in the Listed $120,000 The Straight Six (1200m) at Flemington on May 23.
Smerdon said that Lumosty would head to Brisbane on Tuesday night and if she doesn’t make the final field for the Stradbroke Hanidcap would run in the Group 2 $300,000 Best Security Dane Ripper Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday.
“She’ll work here on Tuesday morning and fly up Tuesday night,” Smerdon told AAP.
“If she doesn’t make the field she’ll run in the Dane Ripper, but it’s looking closer every day to her getting a run.”
Smerdon confirmed that Corey Brown would be flying in from Singapore to ride Lumosty on the Weekend and should be able to get down to the 50.5kg comfortably.
“He’s a star jockey. He’s naturally light and will cope with that weight without a problem,” Smerdon said.
“He rides that direction, rides those tracks well and he was a no-brainer really.”
Perth sprinter Black Heart Bart and the John O’Shea trained Generalife share the second line of betting for the Stradbroke Handicap at $7 ahead of Charlie Boy at $9, Delectation and Knoydart at $10, Sacred Star at $12 and Doomben 10,000 winner Boban at $13.
