Punters back Joe Pride-trained Think About It for Stradbroke

Think About It is fancied to win the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap. Picture: Getty Images

Saturday's Eagle Farm meeting is a pipe-opener to Queensland winter carnival dreams, but punters are already eyeing off a potential Stradbroke Handicap contender who won't resume until seven days later.

The Queensland Guineas/Victory Stakes meeting on Saturday will give a guide to winter carnival aspirations but punters have already put a circle around a promising sprinter who will resume in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford on May 6.

Joe Pride-trained Think About It, the winner of six from seven starts, has recently been $8 to $5 in the TAB's pre nominations market on the Group 1 Stradbroke on June 10.

Think About It accounts for 31 per cent of investments on TAB's Stradbroke market.

There has also been strong Stradbroke support for Godolphin galloper Vilana ($26 into $5) who resumed in eye-catching fashion in Sydney on April 15.

Vilana resumed in fabulous fashion. Picture: Grant Guy

In early betting on the Group 1 Doomben 10,000, The Everest star Giga Kick is the clear $2 favourite and accounts for 66 per cent of investments.

In betting on Saturday's Eagle Farm card, Matt Hoysted and Steve O'Dea-trained two-year-old filly Appin Girl has been popular with punters.

Appin Girl, who won in dominant fashion on debut, is $4 into $3 in a Dalrello Stakes betting market impacted by the scratching of Chris Waller's colt Armed Forces.

Notable bets on Appin Girl have included $5000 at $4.20 and $3800 at $4 with TAB.

Stablemate Party For Two, last seen racing in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes, is the $2.30 favourite.

Meanwhile, Group 1 winner Private Eye is the one punters want in Saturday's Group 2 Victory Stakes.

"The Joe Pride-trained runner is $2.50 into $2.30, with not much money for anything else in early betting," a TAB spokesman said.