Talented mare Red Tracer is on track for the 2014 Stradbroke Handicap after scoring an impressive victory in a barrier trial at Rosehill Gardens this morning.
Red Tracer scored her maiden win at Group 1 level when she defeated a strong field in the 2013 Tattersall's Tiara in Brisbane. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Red Tracer competed in the opening trial of the day over 1030 metres and was settled in second position behind early leader All That I Am before taking up the running at the 200 metre mark.
The daughter of Dane Shadow pulled clear of the rest of the field, despite being kept under a heavy hold by jockey Nash Rawiller, and scored a comfortable victory from All That I Am and Saintly Sun in a time of 64.5 seconds.
Red Tracer is set to return to the races in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 7, where she will carry 55 and a half kilograms, and she will then go on to defend her title in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) at the same venue on June 25.
The Chris Waller-trained mare has not been seen at the races since she finished a close third behind Diamond Drille and Gypsy Diamond in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 19 at the end of her inconsistent 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign.
Red Tracer started her autumn preparation with a comfortable win in the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 1 and finished an unlucky third in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Royal Randwick on March 15 after blundering badly at the start.
The six-year-old was well-backed in the lead-up to the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 29, but raced ungenerously in the middle stages of the race and could finish no better than tenth, but returned to a semblance of her best form in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes.
Red Tracer will be returning to Queensland for the first time since her successful 2013 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival campaign where she took out the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 8 before recording her maiden victory at Group 1 level with an outstanding performance in the Tattersall’s Tiara.
Red Tracer ($12) is currently on the sixth line of 2014 Stradbroke Handicap betting markets; with Srikandi ($4.60) a narrow favourite from Rebel Dane ($6), Spirit Of Boom ($6.50), Catkins ($12) and Knoydart ($12).
