THE FORECAST: BIG FIELD BIG FUN

Is there a better racing spectacle in Australia than a big field handicap?

Let’s run through the big ones, the Newmarket, the Doncaster, the Epsom, the Toorak, the Rupert Clarke, and of course the Stradbroke.

I’m a fair dinkum pig for a big handicap race, crazy things happen in these races and I’m there for it.

Saturday’s $3million Stradbroke has me frothing for a punt. I reckon the favourite VILANA is unders, recency bias is a big factor here and I reckon putting the horse up as fave after it that has already had two cracks at this race and fallen short presents opportunity.

MAGIC TIME is a two-time Group 1 winner at 1400m. Two starts back she was herculean in the All Aged in Sydney, I think we all saw what happened to her shoe last start in the Kingsford Smith – I’ve seen tourists running on hot sand at Bondi that looked more comfortable than she did.

AMENABLE was second to Magic Time in the All Aged at a huge price then was stiff not to win at Scone. Gelding this bloke has certainly sparked some improvement – instead of running fourth all the time, he’s running second – but the way he’s going and the way this race can play out, he’s in the game.

If there’s a Hail Mary result, I reckon there are two candidates. ANTINO has long been favourite for this race but a wide gate means Vlad Duric has one option – go back early and pray for a hot speed and some sneaky gaps through the field. Maybe pull a Linton and charge up the rails?

The other candidate is STEPARTY Poor barriers have cruelled him so far this campaign, but he’s drawn beautifully here. Is he the forgotten horse at around $20?

BEST: Eagle Farm R3 No. 8 DON’T FORGET JACK

BEST EACH-WAY: Eagle Farm R8 No. 2 MAGIC TIME

BEST ROUGHIE: Eagle Farm R6 No. 5 CAN’T RECALL ONE