Stallion eyes $1m Stradbroke

Stradbroke preview
A diamond-shaped hole the size of a cigarette packet could make a million-dollar difference for Love Conquers All in tomorrow's A$1 million ($1.29 million) Stradbroke at Eagle Farm in Queensland.
The high-class stallion will wear what is known as a visor, which the Hawkes training team hopes switches the horse on for his big day.
The visor is a full cup blinker, with a diamond-shaped hole cut out directly in line with the eye.
Harness horses wear them often in New Zealand and they are legal to be worn by thoroughbreds in New Zealand, but are not often seen.
Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes are convinced Love Conquers All, a stallion by Mossman from the 2000 Avondale Cup winner She's A Meanie, has not been concentrating at critical stages of his races.
Beaded easily got the better of him in the home straight in the Doomben 10,000 last start, before Love Conquers All rallied late to nearly snatch the result.
The Hawkes team feel Love Conquers All, wearing traditional blinkers, did not start to fight back until he saw Beaded when the mare was a length clear.
Love Conquers All has won A$1.13 million in stakes, but since he won his last race he has finished runner-up in the Canterbury Stakes, George Ryder Stakes, Doncaster Handicap and Doomben 10,000. Victory in all four would have doubled his stake earnings.
The Eagle Farm track tomorrow is likely to be much different to the one predicted earlier in the week.
The heavy rain that was forecast tomorrow now appears more likely to arrive either late tomorrow night or Sunday morning.
Which is not the best news for the Debbie and Graeme Rogerson-trained Dowager Queen in the A$500,000 TJ Smith.
Dowager Queen has shown several times in New Zealand she is well up to handling rain-affected tracks and heavy going might well have given her an edge over the talented Australian juveniles.
But she will still run out the 1600m better than most of her fleet-footed rivals so is a chance.
New Zealand filly Shez Sinastional was yesterday rated a $9 chance in the A$500,000 Queensland Oaks behind $3.80 favourite Shootoff, Turnitup on $6.50 and Heidelicious at $8.
New Zealand tracks are not likely to escape as well as Eagle Farm - rain is forecast for today in Auckland and Waikato, ensuring Te Rapa tomorrow will be testing.
Pukekohe today is likely to be very heavy if the quantity of rain predicted arrives.
Te Rapa was rated a slow (7) yesterday but the predicted worsening of the track should suit Montjee in the Pellows Funeral Directors & Advisors 2000, despite carrying topweight of 59kg.