Saturday's G1 Stradbroke H. sees a rematch of the top three from the May 27 G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup, with Clearly Innocent (Aus) (Not a Single Doubt {Aus}) seeking back-to-back scores at the highest level under top weight of 125 pounds. The 5-year-old Kris Lees-trained gelding seeks his third straight win, having taken the Listed Luskin Star S. at Scone on May 13; however, in addition to top weight, rider Hugh Bowman will have to navigate a good trip from the widest barrier. Jungle Edge (Aus) (Dubawi {Ire}) will try to use the addition of blinkers to turn the tables on Clearly Innocent, and the front runner has drawn more favourably in seven. The Kingsford-Smith third Counterattack (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) looks to snap a losing streak that dates back to last May for trainer Chris Waller, and that champion trainer indicated he is likely the best of the three he sends out here, telling Racenet.com.au, “To me, Counterattack has just finally started to look mature, like a really masculine horse. He is now four, and for the first time ever he actually looks his age. His winning strike rate has been a bit frustrating at times but if you look deeply into his form there have been reasons for that.”
Waller also saddles a pair who are racing first-up since December but have been primed with a few trials under their girths: 7-1 chance Mackintosh (NZ) (Pins {Aus}), who races well fresh, and longshot Good Project (Aus) (Not a Single Doubt {Aus}).
It bodes well for Good Project that longshots have a good record in this race, the average winning price since 2005 being $16. Others to watch in that regard include Peter and Paul Snowden and Triple Crown Syndications' Gold Symphony (Aus) (Reward For Effort {Aus}), a first-up third in the Luskin Star who won a Randwick trial on June 2; and Lindsay Park's Derryn (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}), the winner of the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint at The Championships who finished third in the G1 Doomben 10,000 over this track on May 13 but struggled in the Kingsford-Smith Cup at Eagle Farm.
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