Luke Pepper sweating on Stradbroke Handicap start for Everest hopeful Opal Ridge

Queensland’s premier sprint could provide some contenders for The Everest, and Opal Ridge will be among them if she can gain a start in the Stradbroke Handicap.

Opal Ridge needs two scratchings to make the Stradbroke Handicap field at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

The Stradbroke Handicap is shaping as an audition for The Everest.

Think About It, the $3 TAB fixed odds favourite to win Queensland’s premier sprint at Eagle Farm over 1400m on Saturday, is already in The Everest field with slot-holder Newgate.

But there are a number of other runners in the Group 1 $3m Stradbroke that can impress their claims for a start in The Everest including brilliant three-year-olds Opal Ridge, Hawaii Five Oh, Ruthless Dame, Royal Merchant and Aft Cabin.

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Opal Ridge, outstanding winner of the Listed Luskin Star Stakes at the Scone stand-alone meeting last month, is only second emergency for the Stradbroke.

Trainer Luke Pepper was always fearful Opal Ridge was too far down the Stradbroke order of entry and has also accepted for the filly in the Group 2 $300,000 Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m) on Saturday.

“We could have come up earlier to Brisbane and raced her in a qualifier for the Stradbroke but I don’t think we would have had the horse for the Tatt’s Tiara later this month,’’ Pepper said.

“There is still a chance she might make the Stradbroke field but the Dane Ripper is a very good option for the filly leading into the Tiara.’’

Pepper said there has been “plenty of talk” about The Everest for Opal Ridge since her dominant Luskin Star Stakes effort as four winners of the Scone sprint have secured The Everest starts – Clearly Innocent (2017), Osborne Bulls (2018), Trekking (2019) and Lost And Running (2021).

Opal Ridge won the Luskin Star, which has provided four runners in The Everest. Picture: Bradley Photos

Godolphin duo Osborne Bulls and Trekking were good enough to run third in The Everest later that year and Lost And Running finished fourth.

“Opal Ridge still has to prove herself at the top level yet so we will concentrate on her next two runs and not get too far ahead of ourselves,’’ Pepper said.

“If she stands up and answers some questions in Brisbane this month then who knows what the spring could hold for her.’’

Impending (2017) is the only three-year-old to win a Stradbroke in the last decade while no filly has won the race since La Montagna in 2006.

But the young guns are there in numbers on Saturday with Hawaii Five Oh pressing for Stradbroke favouritism at $4.

He has emerged as one of the most promising sprinters in the nation after his dominant wins in the Hawkesbury Guineas and Fred Best Classic in recent weeks.

“Two months ago everyone said Hawaii Five Oh should be gelded but all he needed was dry tracks and now he’s being spoken about for The Everest,’’ part-owner John Singleton said.

“I know Gerry (Harvey, part-owner) wants to go for The Everest. He already got all the statistics and sectional times so he’s making a convincing argument.

“But we have to get through the Stradbroke first, we will know more about the colt after Saturday.’’

Godolphin owns an Everest slot and Aft Cabin along with his older stablemate Vilana can become part of the Everest conversation if either was to win the Stradbroke.

Similarly, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained fillies Ruthless Dame and Royal Merchant are already Group 1 winners at 1200m and in The Everest mix.

Originally published as Luke Pepper sweating on Stradbroke Handicap start for Everest hopeful Opal Ridge