Ayrton now late Stradbroke entry

In a dramatic change of plans, former Kiwi galloper Ayrton is to be paid up as a late entry into the A$1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm.

Trainer Mick Price says that a combination of factors, including the dire weather forecast, had forced a revision of his winter plans with connections opting to redirect the 4-year-old to the 1400m Group 1 rather than go up in distance to 2000m of the Doomben Cup.

“I’ve had a think about where to go with Ayrton and given the predicted wet weather and his failure to handle the wet ground, we are going to run in the Stradbroke on a late entry nomination,” Price said.

“Eagle Farm, getting to the bigger track — it’s either that or the paddock because I couldn’t persevere with him with this wet weather that’s coming.

“His 1400m form is OK. He’ll need to be a closer in the Stradbroke, but he’s won there and the owners Roll The Dice are accepting of the Stradbroke plan so that’s what we’ll do. I’m not sure of what weight he gets or who rides, but that’s where he’s going.”

Ayrton was one of the first horses beaten in Saturday’s Hollindale Stakes (1800m) on the Gold Coast as he struggled in the heavy conditions before being ruled as lame after the race by vets on the Gold Coast.

Price said he and his vets could find nothing amiss with the horse.

The A$1.5m Stradbroke Handicap headlines Brisbane’s biggest day of racing for the year.

Also on the June 11 programme is the J J Atkins (1600m) for 2-year-olds, the $1.2m weight-for-age Q22 (2200m) and the Group 2 $400,000 Brisbane Cup (2400m).

Price took aim at the early nominations for races like the Stradbroke, as it meant Ayrton’s owners had to find $9000 to include him.

“They are just revenue raisers,” Price said of the early nomination scheme.

“You had to nominate [for the Stradbroke] before Saturday’s race so now they are asking the owners to pay $9000.

“It’s punitive and it’s not necessary,” he said.