History favours Love Conquers All to stop Black Piranha in Stradbroke
Spud king Nick Moraitis can draw inspiration from two-time Stradbroke Handicap winner Black Piranha as his galloper Love Conquers All strives to capture a group 1 event.
While Black Piranha is out to make history as the first three-time Stradbroke winner, Love Conquers All goes into the $1 million feature having finished second in the George Ryder Stakes, Doncaster Mile and Doomben 10,000.
"Black Piranha was runner-up in each of those three races before winning the first of his two Stradbrokes," TAB Sportsbet's Glenn Munsie said yesterday. "He [Love Conquers All] deserves a win at this level and if the rain arrives, Love Conquers All is going to be better suited, but he is going to do it tough from that alley."
Prepared by Team Hawkes, Love Conquers All got barrier 16 at yesterday's draw for the Stradbroke, which attracted a capacity field of 18, including five emergencies.
Drawn alongside in gate 17 was Love Conquers All's Doomben 10,000 slayer Beaded, which retained favouritism for the Stradbroke, despite no mare having won the race since it was extended to 1400 metres in 1953. "The 1400 metres is the absolute limit of where Beaded wants to go and from barrier 17 she has to find too much luck to win it for mine," Munsie said.
Beaded remained the $5.50 favourite for Queensland's premier event, ahead of Black Piranha at $6, while the local and last-start winner Woorim (barrier 18) firmed into $6.50.
The Stephen Farley-trained Sincero is the only three-year-old in the Stradbroke and the one-time race favourite is set to wear blinkers after an early morning gallop at Deagon yesterday.
"He has drawn four and we can't change it now," Farley said. "He'll go back, stay off the fence and get a bit more galloping room than he did last weekend."
That was in the QTC Cup, when Sincero drew barrier one and was crowded between runners when well beaten as favourite.
"I really don't think Sincero is mature enough to win a Stradbroke," Munsie said. "He showed the other day he didn't cope in a big field being down on the inside. He is going to be down on the fence again."
Black Piranha's part-owner John Karakatsanis reckons barrier three "was an omen".
Munsie agreed: "The planets are aligning for Black Piranha's shot at Stradbroke Handicap history. Three years ago, he carried four kilograms over the limit to win a Stradbroke, last year he carried six over and this year he carries five kilograms. The high-speed horses from inside to out in the draw are Listen Son, Border Rebel, Buffering, Zero Rock and, more than likely, Love Conquers All."
Sincero was steady at $9 last night but the Pat and Wayne Webster-trained Thankgodyou'rehere firmed from $8.50 into $8 after drawing midfield in barrier 11.
"A massive danger to Black Piranha is Thankgodyou'rehere," Munsie said. "Every year an improving lightweight comes out of the Stradbroke and this is it."
As expected, last Saturday's runaway Queensland Oaks winner Scarlett Lady didn't pay up yesterday for the Queensland Derby. Stablemate Shootoff remains the $4 favourite.
Story: Craig Young SMH
Photo: Martin King www.sportpix.com.au