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| Staff Writer |
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The initial Stradbroke Handicap slot will remain unfilled, as the connections of the $101 outsider Dream Hour have confirmed that they will proceed to participate in the Gr1 US$3 million feature at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
After negotiations with the connections of the likely first emergency, Freedom Rally, fluctuated throughout last week and ultimately ceased on Sunday, Australian Bloodstock has decided to enter the Kris Lees-trained Dream Hour instead.
Australian Bloodstock secured the first-ever Stradbroke slot by winning The Gateway at Eagle Farm in December with Dream Hour, which is limited to four-year-olds exclusively.
The connections of the winning horse can now negotiate to bring any horse inside the top 40 in the Stradbroke ballot order into the race.
Dream Hour beat Freedom Rally. After missing out on securing ballot-free entry in the BRC Sprint last month, Freedom Rally opted to try their luck as the first emergency for the Stradbroke.
The connections likely have a second emergency, Yellow Brick, also briefly in discussions.
This means Australian Bloodstock will have two runners in the race, with consistent handicapper Nugget set to line up with Jason Collett in the saddle.
Kyle Wilson-Taylor will ride Dream Hour in the same colors. Although the trainer could have had as many as three runners in the race he has always desired, it leaves trainer Tony Gollan with just one likely starter in Antino.