Monday, 28 May 2012: Buffering is set to carry the topweight in the $1 million Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on June 9 following an injury to dual winner Black Piranha that may mark the end of his career.
 | Black Piranha
Photo by Racing and Sports | |
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Black Piranha 
, heading the Stradbroke weights 57.5kg after first acceptances, suffered a sesamoid injury in last Saturday's Doomben Ten Thousand where was last to finish.
It was only his second start of his current campaign and his trainer Con Karakatsanis says it will be six months before any decision can be made on his racing future.
Black Piranha won back to back Stradbrokes in 2009 and 2010 among his eight victories in 63 starts
Karakatsanis may still be represented in this year's event by
Riva de Lago is the last start Scone winner can secure ballot exemption by winning Saturday's $175,000 QTC Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm.
Riva de Lago is currently 58th on the order of entry for the Stradbroke but is closer to the borderline due to a high attrition rate among the first acceptors.
Buffering , a game second to Sea Siren in last Saturday's Doomben Ten Thousand (1350m), currently has 57kg in the Stradbroke but weights will be raised 1kg without
Black Piranha when the final field is declared next week.
The conditions of Group One races stipulate the topweight must carry a minimum of 58kg.
Doomben Ten Thousand winner
Sea Siren has been penalised 1.5kg for the Stradbroke, taking her weight to 54kg.
She will have to carry 55kg, a modern day record for a filly in the Stradbroke, if the weights rise 1kg.
In other Stradbroke moves Glen Boss has taken the ride on
Torio's Quest while
Pampelonne and
Smokin' Joey have joined the list of non runners.
Torio's Quest, currently 27th on the Stradbroke order of entry, will have his final lead-up in Saturday's QTC Cup.
The Peter Snowden-trained three-year-old
Mental is 45th on the order of entry but will make the field if he wins Saturday's $350,000 Queensland Guineas over 1400m.
