June 6 - Ex-Aussie waterskiing champion, Wayne Nichols, who turned in his skis for a horseracing trainer's license 26 years ago, has high hopes for his 3-year-old gelding, Diplomatic Force, in Saturday's Stradbroke Handicap (Group 1) at Eagle Farm racecourse in Brisbane.

If Diplomatic Force wins the 1400-metre $1 million Stradbroke Handicap, he will ensure a hat trick of wins for three-year-olds in the annual event, after Mudgee sprinter, Sniper's Bullet, took top honors last year, and talented Queensland filly, La Montagna, the year before.

While the Stradbroke Handicap is widely recognized as an ideal race for three-year-olds, only two males have ever crossed the line first. One is Sniper's Bullet and the other Never Undercharge, in 1993. A trio of fillies, La Montagna in 2006, Private Steer in 2003, and Dane Ripper in 1997, have enjoyed success at this prestigious Queensland race.

Come Saturday, Nichols will be hoping for his first ever Group 1 horse racing victory in his first horseracing-related outing to Queensland. 'The only time I have ever competed in Queensland was back in the day when I used to water ski, and I am hoping to bring home a trophy this weekend,' said Nichols.

The trainer admits to setting a course for the Brisbane winter carnival after he dispatched Diplomatic Force to Adelaide in April this year for the Goodwood Handicap Group 1 (1200m) at Morphettville, in order to avoid Weekend Hussler in Melbourne.

'While in Brisbane, Diplomatic Force came first in the Yallambee Classic and managed a third place in the Goodwood, giving us a good indication that he was ready to tackle the Stradbroke Handicap. Our objective this year has always been to get Diplomatic Force ready for the Stradbroke,' he said.

In his horseracing career, Nichols has only won two Group level races, the Group 2 Yallambee Classic with Diplomatic Force, and Simple As That in 1995, at the Group 3 Victoria Handicap at Caulfield.

"I believe that during the Stradbroke Handicap tomorrow, Diplomatic Force will be up amongst the leaders, particularly with the fine weather Brisbane is currently experiencing which means a Eagle Farm track rating of dead or slightly better,' concluded Nichols.