Australian racing tips for June 13, 2026
Stradbroke Handicap day on Saturday is THE big day of the year in Queensland racing and, despite the heavy track, this year’s card is outstanding and deep.
It’s not going to be easy to find a winner in such conditions, but we have run the rule over the group races on the card, including the Group 1 double of the Trackside NZ J.J. Atkins and the Ladbrokes Stradbroke Handicap.
The Joe Pride-trained Headley Grange is the favourite for the Stradbroke after his win in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup at this track a fortnight ago, but you coould on Friday secure at least $6.50 about his chances. The gelding is well suited in the wet but with a big field engaged it will be the charge of the light brigade when they turn from home in the Brisbane gloom.
Fangirl will carry the top weight and she charged home for third to Headley Grange last start. The 1400m now is her pet distance but she is unplaced in five starts on heavy going.
Other metro Australian racing includes meetings from Sandown, Rosehill, Murray Bridge and Rosehill. Read on for our free betting tips and analysis for the best racing in Australia on June 13.
Eagle Farm Race 3
Group 2 XXXX Brisbane Cup (3200m)
Odds-makers have decided the form from the Group 3 Premier’s Cup over 2400m will stack up here with the quinella from that race, (1) Alalcance and (7) Bella Montagna, dominating the betting. The latter is three kilos better off at the weights this time and was beaten only a head. The one caveat we have is the extra distance and likely heavy track mean you’ll need to stay like a mother-in-law to win this one. Rachel King is riding in outstanding form and Bella Montagna is the horse to beat from the inside gate. (2) Etna Rosso was a minute behind the top pair in the Premier’s Cup but is at least proven out to to two miles, as is (5) Highland Bling, which was placed in the Group 1 Sydney Cup.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 7,2,1,5. Best bet: Bella Montagna to win.
Eagle Farm Race 4
Group 3 Sky Racing Gunsynd Classic (1600m)
A couple of dual acceptors here make it tough to assess, and things will become a lot clearer when we know if they are running here or in the Group 1 Stradbroke. Betting on this Group 3 is completely dominated by three runners in (1) Sixties, (2) Skyhook and (10) Within The Law, with at least $15 available about the rest of the field. Sixties and Skyhook are emergencies for the Stradbroke Handicap and both are well in betting for that race too, given their featherweights. But in the Gunsynd, the trio seem a cut above the rest, though there has been money for the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained (11) Tupakara. The blueblood (7) Congressman could surprise at a huge price as he is lightly raced with his best ahead, but if the big three all start he would have to find five lengths to be competitive.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 1,10,2,7. Best bet: Sixties to win if he starts here.
Eagle Farm Race 6
Group 2 Magic Millions Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m)
This is a Group 2 race for fillies and mares, and again has attracted a bumper field. (2) Firestorm is an interesting runner from the Chris Waller stable. The five-year-old comes into this fresh but four of her five wins have come first-up. (8) She’s Got Pizzazz has struck a purple patch of form and should get every chance from gate six for Mark Zahra. She stormed home last time out and was possibly unlucky not to have won. (12) Gerringong is another runner coming in fresh and watch for any market leads from her. She ran well in good races in Sydney lat campaign. (4) Niance is building an outstanding record with seven wins from only 15 starts and she should bein the first four in running. If the on-pacers are suited on the day, she will look the winner at some stage in the straight.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 12,4,8,14. Best bet: Gerringong each-way should give a great sight.
Eagle Farm Race 7
Group 1 Trackside NZ J.J. Atkins (1600m)
(4) Tron Bolt has been outstanding winning his past two starts in Sydney and the Waller-James McDonald combination have been lethal for years. He steps up to the Group 1 against a field which largely fought out the main lead-up race to this, won by the promising (1)
Berzelius, an Extreme Choice colt which has shown he handles the wet. (8) Cormier should not be overlooked. He chased home Tron Bolt last time and has the services of gun provincial jockey Aaron Bullock. (6) Kickup Rocky keeps running on and shapes as the though the mile is made to order..
Rupert McIntosh tips: 8,4,1,6 Best bet: Try Cormier each-way at double-figure odds.
Eagle Farm Race 8
Group 1 Ladbrokes Stradbroke Hcp (1400m)
The No.1 race in Queensland and with $3 million in prizemoney (including $1.8 million for the winner), you can be sure of competitive, aggressive riding in the big field. We are big fans of (1) Fangirl and would be confident of her chances if the track were on the slow side of heavy but alas more rain is forecast for race day. She could still win but her record in heavy going does not inspire confidence. (8) Transatlantic is from the leading Queensland stable of Tony Gollan and his campaign has been timed to the minute for this race. The son of Snitzel is well in the betting but will need a Tommy Berry gem of a ride from gate 18. (7) Headley Grange put it all together last time to break his Group 1 duck and he has developed a great affinity with jockey Adam Hyeronimus. (4) Another Wil has drawn wide but is another which should be peaking for this and the Ciaron Maher stable should never be discounted.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 4,1,7,18. Best bet: Another Wil for the boilover at around $15.
Eagle Farm Race 9
Group 2 HKJC World Pool Q22 (2200m)
We have been spruiking (1) Half Yours at weight-for-age this campaign and he has frankly been a little disappointing each time. The Melbourne Cup winner will be suited out to 2200m but to date he raced without a lot of spark. At his fourth run back here, he should be at his peak. We know the pace will be on thanks to the presence of the mad front-runner (10) Pride Of Jenni. Every race she runs in become an exciting affair. This time she is out to 2200m for the first time and on the heavy track it will seem a long way down he home straight. (11) She’s A Hustler has been butting heads with the previous two stayers and has also been marginally disappointing but does seem to relish the wet and might well be suited at Eagle Farm. (8) Zambardo has been getting better as the distances have increased and should be better again here but meets a tougher field.
Rupert McIntosh tips: 10,1,8,11. Best bet: Pride Of Jenni to keep going.
