Manuel to miss Stradbroke Handicap

Group One winner Manuel will miss the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm after a flat gallop at trackwork.

It will leave trainer Tony McEvoy with two runners, Despatch and Dollar For Dollar, as he chases his seventh Group One win of the season at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Manuel won the Group One C F Orr Stakes in February but ran last in the Doomben 10,000 at his first Queensland run on May 11.

McEvoy ordered Manuel to trial at the Gold Coast two weeks ago and he impressed when he ran the leader down after giving away many lengths.

But McEvoy was far from happy after travelling from Melbourne to Queensland to watch him work on Tuesday.

"Manuel has done a good job this year but I think he has come to the end of it," McEvoy said.

"He didn't work well enough to win a race, let alone a Stradbroke. He can go for a spell and we can look at the spring."

Despatch and Dollar For Dollar both worked on the Eagle Farm course proper on Tuesday morning and satisfied McEvoy.

"They were strong so they are set for Saturday," he added.

The decision to spell Manuel means the Tony Gollan-trained I'm A Rippa should get a Stradbroke start.

Acceptances for the meeting will be taken on Wednesday.