Few surprises in 1st Stradbroke acceptors

Godolphin’s Osborne Bulls remains outside the top 16 horses to make the Stradbroke Handicap field.

A few trainers could breath easier but at least two others remain on edge after first acceptances were taken for the Group One Stradbroke Handicap.

There were few shocks when the 30 first acceptances were released for the $1.5 million Stradbroke to be run on June 9.

Last year’s winner Impending will be topweight with 57.5kg after Kris Lees elected not to run Le Romain.

Doomben 10,000 winner English and Group One winner In Her Time were, as expected, non-acceptors.

One trainer who was relieved was Matt Dunn with news his gelding Care To Think was safely in the field.

“Now all we need is a good barrier,” Dunn said.

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But still sweating on more dropouts are James Cummings with Osborne Bulls, who is 19th in the order of entry, and Darren Weir with Danon Liberty (18th).

Both horses sit just outside the field of 16 runners.

They are highly placed in betting markets but will need some luck to make the field.

The Moreton Cup at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday is ballot free for the Stradbroke but only one runner, Handsome Thief, could leap into the field by winning it.

The final field will be declared next Wednesday.

There are 32 first acceptances for the Group One Queensland Derby and 19 for the Group One JJ Atkins Plate.

John Thompson’s two-year-old Commander is 17th in the JJ Atkins but a win at Gosford on Thursday will put him in the field.