Stradbroke Handicap day has been a happy hunting ground for jockey Tye Angland and his overall record in Queensland Group races commands attention.
Angland's first Group I success came in the 2009 Group I Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on Black Piranha, a two-time winner of Queensland's premier race.
Since returning from a four-year Hong Kong riding stint in 2014, Angland has won three majors, his latest being the Group I JJ Atkins (1600m) aboard Press Statement at last year's Stradbroke Handicap meeting.
This year he has six rides, including the John Thompson-trained Hooked in the Stradbroke Handicap, as he looks to build on a 31.6 percent winning or placing strike rate in Queensland Group races.
Angland was recalled for the ride on Hooked after leading Queensland hoop Jim Byrne engaged Hooked in a fierce speed battle last start in the Group I Doomben 10,000 (1350m).
Angland won the Group II Tramway Stakes with the son of Casino Prince last October over the Stradbroke distance and is positive about the four-year-old bouncing back off a taxing first-up effort.
"The reports were that he actually pulled up a lot better than what they thought," Angland said.
"It would have been a bit of a gut-buster but he can be a bit casual in his races so if I was to take a positive out of it that might have really woken him up.
"Obviously we won't know until after the race on Saturday but he's the sort of horse that might have needed a run like that."
The barrier draw was not kind to the connections of Hooked, coming up with gate 16 of 18 on Wednesday morning but Angland is hopeful the horse's early speed will offset the wide starting point.
"He's got good gate speed anyway but he won't be going break-neck speed to get to the front," Angland said.
"There should be decent speed in the race and hopefully that opens it up and I can find a good position without doing too much work."
Angland's other Group I mount on the revamped 10-race card is the Anthony Cummings-trained Maven Wiz in the Queensland Derby (2400m).
Maven Wiz is quoted as high as $101 with some bookmakers but at least warrants a second look when you consider Cummings' record of causing boilovers in Group I races.
The Randwick trainer's surprise winners in major races include Teranaba ($51 - 2006 Spring Champion Stakes), Road To Rock ($41 – 2009 George Main Stakes), Zavite ($101 – 2011 Ranvet Stakes), Shadows In The Sun ($21 – 2011 South Australian Derby), and Fiveandahalfstar ($41 – 2012 Victoria Derby). And more recently Vergara ran a bold fourth in the Group I Doncaster Mile (1600m) at $151.
Maven Wiz has won over 2100 metres at Wyong and Gosford this campaign and has been afforded the inside draw on Saturday.
"He's been going well around the provincial circuit and ran an honest race in town the other day. He's hard fit, jumps from a good gate and the distance will suit him," Angland said.
"He's a rough hope but Anthony has pulled it off a few times.
"It's been 12 months between drinks for me so hopefully Saturday's the day."
