Weighting to see
THE fate of several leading Stradbroke hopes will be better known after first acceptances are taken tomorrow, but a couple of leading chances are treading a tightrope.
Following the release of weights and order of entry for the $1.5million sprint yesterday, popular duo Care To Think and Osborne Bulls are both outside the cut off.
As expected, Le Romain (58kg) and Impending (57.5kg) top the weights, with Lucky Hussler next in line at 56kg.
Champagne Cuddles (50kg) is 17th in the order of entry (16 can run) but is assured of a start, with nine runners above her already ruled out. Corey Brown has been confirmed as her rider.
Ben Smith confirmed yesterday that In Her Time will be rested to prepare for The Everest in the spring and Doomben 10,000 winner English will also be a non-runner.
Others that would be assured of a start, but are not running are Vega Magic, Terravista, Clearly Innocent, Secret Agenda, Prompt Response, Viddora, Catchy, Thronum and Tom Melbourne.
Takedown (28th), Formality (32nd) and Sovereign Nation (35th) have also been ruled out.
That leaves long-time favourite Care To Think (52.5kg) right on the brink at 17th after those above him come out.
The other betting fancy outside the field is Osborne Bulls (51.5kg), who is only promoted to 27th with the known withdrawals.
There’s also a slot waiting for the winner of Saturday’s Moreton Cup, should connections take up the offer.