G1 prospects for Impending despite bad gate

A dose of misfortune at the barrier draw has made the task confronting Impending a lot more difficult in Saturday’s G1 Stradbroke Handicap at Doomben.

But it hasn’t deterred trainer Darren Beadman who believes he has the colt in first-class order for the premier event on the Queensland racing calendar.

Impending (Corey Brown) drew barrier 18 on a track that generally favours horses racing on the speed and will need a lot to go right if he’s to be competitive.

In Beadman’s view, however, the son of Lonhro still has a lot in his favour.

“Since his last run he’s worked really well and actually put in an outstanding piece of work at the Gold Coast on Tuesday,” Beadman said.

“Unfortunately, the barrier is going to make it tougher for him, but he’ll go into the race in great form, very fit and very well.

Another positive is the engagement of the in-form Brown who guided the Godolphin runner Cottage to victory in Sydney last week.

“We’ll get together with Corey over the next few days and see what we can come up with,” Beadman said.

Brown will also be required to produce some magic on Mogador who has drawn barrier 19 in the Listed Hinkler Handicap at Doomben.

“He’s drawn the car park and he hasn’t run for a while, but he’s coming along nicely,” Beadman said.

On the same card, the trainer is looking for a return to winning form from Raiment (Tye Angland) in the G2 Dane Ripper Stakes.

The filly, who has won twice this preparation, failed to handle a shifting track last start at Eagle Farm but has drawn barrier one with better ground virtually assured.

“It took her a while to get over the run and from a good gate and on better ground she should be much better off,” Beadman said.

The stable’s Saturday Stakes-race contingent is completed by Moher (Tye Angland) who comes into the Listed Wayne Wilson Stakes off solid runs in similar class at his past two.