Material Man to be tested first up in 2019 Stradbroke Handicap

New trainer Pat Carey is banking on Material Man’s good first up record to make him competitive in the 2019 Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Material Man has a fifty per cent winning first up record and the 2018 Perth Cup winner will be stepping out for the first time for the Mornington trainer.

Carey took over the training of Material Man from Western Australian trainer Justin Warwick following last start tenth in the $5m All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington on March 16.

“He’s settled in well over here,” Carey told Racenet.

“It’s a short run-up to this type of race and I’m still learning about this horse.

“He’s done a couple of pieces of nice work and he’s had a jump out the reverse way.”

“The aim is to get him into the Stradbroke fresh.”

“It’s obviously a competitive race and everything has got to go right for him to be a winning hope I’d say.”

Material Man was the winner of the 2018 Group 2 $500,000 Perth Cup (2400m) at Ascot during the 2017-2018 Perth Summer Carnival and has been Group 1 placed three times at Ascot.

The seven year old finished consecutive seconds in the 2017 and 2018 Group 1 $1m Kingston Town Classic (1800m) and was also third in the 2018 Group 1 $1m Railway Stakes (1600m).

Pre-0post betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Stradbroke Handicap has Material Man marked at $26 while the dual Brisbane Winter Carnival Group 1 winner The Bostonian heads the market order at $5.50.

Early betting for the 2019 Stradbroke Handicap at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5.50 The Bostonian, $8 Trekking, $9 Tyzone, $11 Spright, $12 Despatch, Home Of The Brave, $13 Endless Drama, $15 Widgee Turf, Encryption, $17 Pretty In Pink, $21 Irithea, $26 Dollar For Dollar, Material Man, Manuel, Princess Posh, Quilista, Ringerdingding, Tom Melbourne, Viridine, $31 or better the rest.

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