Stradbroke spot on the line ahead of Fred Best Classic

Star Sydney colt Dawn Passage is the early favourite to win the Fred Best Classic at Doomben and clinch a ballot exempt spot in next week's the Group One Stradbroke Handicap.

The Group Three Fred Best Classic on Saturday features a number of three-year-olds who also hold nominations for the Stradbroke a week later, but the winner won't have to endure the ballot ahead of the Eagle Farm feature.

Dawn Passage was installed $3.30 favourite for the Fred Best with Ladbrokes on Monday with the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Hightail next best at $5.

Winner of the Hawkesbury Guineas and Inglis 3YO Guineas over 1400m at Rosehill at his past two starts, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Dawn Passage is one of the fancies for the Stradbroke but a defeat on Saturday would mean he's unlikely to make the cut given he's down the ballot at 37th.

Doncaster Mile-winning Sydney jockey James Innes Jr has travelled to Queensland and is undertaking 14 days of isolation in a bid to ride the colt at a light weight in the Stradbroke should he make the field.

The Fred Best Classic has attracted 24 nominations with a field limit of 16 plus emergencies.

CLICK HERE for the latest Fred Best Classic betting odds.