Glen Boss and Damien Oliver knock Bella Nipotina in Stradbroke Handicap while leaning to lightweights

Champion jockeys Glen Boss and Damien Oliver are looking down the bottom of the weights in Saturday’s $3m Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.

More than two decades on from his Stradbroke Handicap victory aboard Private Steer, champion jockey Glen Boss says the time is right for another three-year-old filly to win the $3m feature at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The retired Melbourne Cup winner says Stefi Magnetica has the perfect Stradbroke profile and is his top pick on Saturday, with Zac Lloyd set to navigate a carpark barrier from gate 19.

Boss, a proud Queenslander, famously won the race 21 years ago aboard Private Steer with 48kg, who is still the last three-year-old filly to win the race.

RACE | ‘He has great bravery': Cummings' high praise for gun hoop

After running well at Group 1 weight for age level in the Kingsford Smith Cup, Stefi Magnetica was unlucky in the Fred Best Classic a fortnight ago, with Boss saying her upside can get her through a Stradbroke on Saturday.

“I keep coming back to the three-year-old filly at the weights,” Boss said.

“Stefi Magnetica, you have to throw her in because she is proven at the distance.

“If Zac Lloyd can get it right in that first quarter of the race from that barrier, I think she will be very hard to beat.

“I thought The Inevitable would run very well, it is hard for a rising nine-year-old, but I think he is well in and his last run was outstanding.”

Damien Oliver likes fellow three-year-old filly Roll On High in the Stradbroke. Picture: Michael Klein.

Boss was sceptical on the chances of Bella Nipotina in the race, saying there were a number of factors working against her.

His thoughts were echoed by fellow riding great Damien Oliver, who said the gruelling 1400m trip along with the bone dry track would make it hard for her.

Oliver said he was taken by another three-year-old filly in Roll On High.

“This filly reminds me a bit of Dane Ripper,” Oliver said.

READ | Golf in the Greek islands: Why top trainer will miss the Stradbroke

Dane Ripper won the Stradbroke in 1997 for Chris Munce as a three-year-old with 50kg, before going on to win the Cox Plate later that year as a four-year-old with Oliver in the saddle.

Boss said he doesn’t expect a horse to latch onto strong favouritism, with the barrier draw making it difficult for punters to make up their mind.

“The barriers really left this race wide open,” he said.

“I’m with Ollie when it comes to Bella Nipotina, there is no rain and it is going to be a firm deck, she probably only just gets seven furlongs, she will have no favours and I think she will be wanting late.”

Originally published as Glen Boss and Damien Oliver knock Bella Nipotina in Stradbroke Handicap while leaning to lightweights