TROPICAL HORSES HOT CONTENDERS AT STRADBROKE

Cairns-owned horses Tyzone and Dawn Passage duel for Stradbroke

THE eyes of Australia’s racing industry and followers will turn north this week with Cairns having two of the top contenders in Queensland’s premier Group 1 race.

The Tom Hedley-owned Tyzone has been ready for Saturday’s $350,000 Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm for months, while Dawn Passage, owned by Cairns businessman Darren Halpin, booked his ticket for the big dance on Saturday.

Ladbrokes have the Halpin colt as a $4.60 favourite for the Group 1 race over 1400m and is expected to shorten further if he gets a suitable draw.

Tyzone is judged a $12 chance by Ladbrokes, in a glut of six horses behind Dawn Passage in the market.

The formerly Roy Chillemitrained Tyzone ran second in the feature event 12 months ago and has been set for a second crack ever since.

Halpin, who owns Dawn Passage with local mates Andrew Guarrera, Norweld’s Jamie Mcintosh and Nqpetro’s Craig Cygler, among others, says having two FNQ-owned horses in the running for the Stradbroke is significant for Cairns.

“It is great for the town to have all these guys having shares in these top horses,” Halpin said.

“Both horses are well weighted, our horse is the up and coming one after Tyzone ran second in the race last year.

“Cairns is going through a rough trot and hopefully this can give a few people a boost.”

Both Halpin and Hedley have won plenty of big races over the journey, but never claimed a Group 1 event, with each of them confident Saturday could be their day.

“Tyzone has not been in suitable races of late, with the weight and distance, and now this is our main aim,” Hedley said. “It is not going to be easy, there are a lot of good horses, but we have got some weight relief which will help.

“He is going well and we are looking forward to it.”