Stradbroke Handicap shot lures Bianco to The Gateway

The opportunity to earn a ballot exemption for the Stradbroke Handicap has tempted connections of Mister Bianco to take on the older horses in The Gateway, but the move is more than just a throw at the stumps.

The three-year-old has been scratched from a benchmark race on Saturday’s Eagle Farm program in preference for the 1400m feature, both races back-up plans after he was withdrawn from a scheduled assignment at Doomben last weekend due to the wet track.

However, it could prove a blessing in disguise as trainer Paul Shailer has a good opinion of the gelding, believing he has the potential to develop into an ideal Stradbroke Handicap candidate.

“It’s certainly something we’ve got in the back of our minds,” Shailer said.

“I don’t see Saturday being a problem taking on the older horses physically as he is a really big, strong boy. It’s just mentally, he is still six months away from being the finished product.

“He’s got plenty of scope to improve still, but he’s got plenty of ability.

“There is a good race in him somewhere, I just don’t know where it will be.”

Mister Bianco carries owner Peter Tighe’s blue and white Magic Bloodstock colours made famous by Winx, and while the three-year-old won’t reach those grand heights, he is tallying a handy record of his own.

He has won two of his five starts and is yet to miss a top three finish, Shailer’s only reservation ahead of Saturday his month-long spacing between runs.

“We’re really happy with where the horse is at, he is going really well,” he said.

“Four weeks between runs is going to be a little bit of a concern for him, but hopefully that soft barrier in three, he can enjoy a nice run in transit and be strong late.”

Shailer has 40 boxes at the Gold Coast where he has been training for 12 months after moving from his previous base on the NSW mid-north coast.

With stables in Sydney difficult to acquire, he says south-east Queensland has proven the perfect fit, especially with the support of clients such as Tighe.

“It has been really positive. I’m building a really nice client base and the Gold Coast Turf Club seems to be going ahead in leaps and bounds,” Shailer said.

“It has been a good twelve months and we’ve got a nice platform to build off.”