Dormant Queenslanders stirring for Stradbroke Day assault

SUPER Saturday could also be Queensland Day as the home players look to turn around their flagging Winter Carnival fortunes this weekend.

Four days to go: Eagle Way books himself a Queensland Derby tilt with a dominant win at Caloundra in January. Picture: Grant Peters Trackside Photography

SUPER Saturday could also be Queensland Day.

The Winter Carnival has so far been a strip-out for local horses but the blockbuster Stradbroke Day program gives Queenslanders their best hope for a Group 1 strike.

Eagle Way is equal $4.50 favourite to win the Queensland Derby, giving trainer Bryan Guy a gilt-edged chance to claim his first Group 1 in more than two decades.

Guy has previously claimed Group 1s in Queensland with 1994 Stradbroke winner All Our Mob and 1995 T.J. Smith champion Ravarda.

Queensland juveniles Nikitas and Candika add to Queensland firepower on the state’s biggest day of racing, with the two-year-olds both on the $10 line of betting for the Group 1 JJ Atkins.

“Things have turned rosy in the Sunshine State after the deluge of the weekend,” UBET’s Gerard Daffy said.

“Many thought it would be slim pickings for the Queenslanders in the feature races this carnival, but it is all turning around.

“Eagle Way has been hugely impressive recently and Candika has been backed for a stack with Queenslanders confidently predicting the filly can win the JJ Atkins.’’

Bryan Guy says the rain has passed and the Queenslanders are ready to roar. Picture: Mark Cranitch

Eagle Way, who will be ridden by Tommy Berry, firmed for the Derby on the back of his fast-finishing second in the Grand Prix Stakes at Doomben last month.

It will be his last run for Guy because Eagle Way is owned by champion Asian trainer John Moore and will be off to Hong Kong to prepare for the Derby there.

Guy will be sad to see the gelding go but is hoping he can give him a clean sweep of the Group 1s which are normally run on Stradbroke Day.

“It would be nice to win the Derby because it would give me the full-set, having already won the Straddy and the JJ Atkins (formerly T.J. Smith),” Guy said.

“I maintain he will be a lot better suited at the bigger track at Eagle Farm, as I don’t think Doomben suited him at all. It took him a little bit of time to wind up around that tight corner.’’

Eagle Way looks a promising candidate for Bryan Guy in the Queensland Derby.

Nikitas, expected to go through his paces at track work at Breakfast With The Stars at Eagle Farm on Tuesday morning, is on song for the JJ Atkins after a pleasing return-to-form run in the Group 2 Sires Produce.

‘’We are still scratching our heads about the first-up run (when Nikitas finished down the track in eighth in the Champagne Classic), but everything has ticked over nicely since then,’’ owner Neville Morgan said.

Candika’s trainer Steve O’Dea can’t wait for the return to Eagle Farm as he believes the more spacious track will be perfect for his filly.

“She has been strong at the end in her recent runs and she looks like she is crying out for the bigger track at Eagle Farm,’’ O’Dea said.

Originally published as Dormant Queenslanders stirring for Stradbroke Day assault