A case of weight and see for Stradbroke Handicap imposts

NATHAN Bourke, the man charged with allocating weights for the Straddie, says nominations for this year’s race “don’t include a natural topweight”.

Likely toppie: James McDonald on Delectation after the Darley Classic.

NATHAN Bourke, the man charged with allocating weights for the Stradbroke Handicap, says nominations for this year’s $1.5 million race “don’t include a natural top weight”.

Bourke says as it stands, Darley Classic winner Delectation was the likely 58kg top weight for the 1400m sprint, to be run on June 11.

“In previous years we’ve had horses like Boban and Buffering that stood out to be up the top, but it’s a bit different this year, so there’s going to be some horses who will be given a little more weight than they would in a normal year,” Bourke said.

“That could change though, pending what happens in races like the BTC Cup this week and the Doomben 10,000.”

Weights will be released the Monday after the 10,000, in which the minimum top weight has to be 58kg.

Bourke said a positive change in Australia in recent times had been that if the 58kg top weight didn’t accept, weights only had to be raised so that the highest weighted horse carried 57kg in the race.

Others who will be up near Delectation at this stage include Sir Rupert Clarke winner Stratum Star.

Current favourite Azkadellia is also near the top of the ratings, but gets the 2kg mares allowance.

The minimum weight for four-year-olds and older in the Stradbroke is 52kg, while the three-year-olds can get in with 50.5kg.

“I think having the Fred Best (for three-year-olds) as an exempt-free race is a good thing,” Bourke said.

“A lot of these lightly raced three-year-olds haven’t had the chance to get their rating up and that race provides the opportunity for those type of horses to secure a start.”

Highly rated Godolphin filly Ghisoni is one of the nominations who needs to improve on her current rating in order to secure a start.

Delectation motors down the Flemington straight. Picture: Jay Town

Originally published as A case of weight and see for Stradbroke Handicap imposts