Six months for this: Tuned ready for Stradbroke grand final

It will be exactly six months to the day since Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Tuned earned his Stradbroke start when he steps out onto Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The Zoustar four-year-old locked in his place in Queensland’s biggest race by winning The Gateway last December, and it has allowed the trainers pick a perfect program.

“You set horses for races a long way out, and once we knew that Tuned was in, we had one target this year, and it allowed us to have a plan to peak on Saturday,” Rob Archibald said.

“There are only four days to go.

“It is a tough race because there are a lot of good horses at the top of the weights that are compressed a little, but we are happy with the way he has got here.

”We ran in the races we wanted too, and he has shown that he is in good form.”

Tuned, who is rated a $34 Stradbroke outsider, sits on the limit weight of 51kg after a couple of lead-ups at the Gold Coast, where he was a runner-up and a fourth in the blanket finish to the BRC Sprint three weeks ago.

His third-up record of two wins and a second from three starts suggests that he will be at his best come Saturday, which is his first try at the highest level.

“He has always been a horse that needs a couple of runs to get to his peak and we have been happy with both his outings,” Archibald said.

“It’s the toughest race he has been in, but he has a good barrier and our jockey Ben Thompson is very happy with him.”

Tuesday’s barrier draw gave all those at the top of betting drawing inside half of the field with Headley Grange staying at $5 after getting eight, Fangirl into $6.50 after getting barrier 11 and Regal Award drifting to $6.50 despite drawing perfectly in gate nine.

The biggest question remains if Sixties, which is first emergency, will gain a start. He is an $11 fourth pick in betting, which will shorten if he gains a run.