Trainer Bart Cummings has endured a roller-coaster ride of emotions, losing one of his Queensland Derby hopes before Latin News grabbed a surprise start in the $1 million Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm.Cummings' Brisbane stable foreman Reg Fleming was downcast early on Friday morning after a bruised foot ruled his top chance Landlord out of Saturday's Group One Queensland Derby (2400m).Cummings still has two runners in the Derby with Dariana and Brightnight and the stable's despair at losing

Trainer Bart Cummings has endured a roller-coaster ride of emotions, losing one of his Queensland Derby hopes before Latin News grabbed a surprise start in the $1 million Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm.

Cummings' Brisbane stable foreman Reg Fleming was downcast early on Friday morning after a bruised foot ruled his top chance Landlord out of Saturday's Group One Queensland Derby (2400m).

Cummings still has two runners in the Derby with Dariana and Brightnight and the stable's despair at losing Landlord turned to joy when Latin News gain a Stradbroke start when the Gai Waterhouse-trained Swift Alliance was ruled out with a recurrence of a leg injury.

Swift Alliance, who was a $26 chance in fixed betting with TAB Sportsbet, was inspected by Queensland Racing stewards early Friday morning before a second veterinary examination at midday (AEST) ruled the four-year-old out.

Swift Alliance's foot problem was the same as the one which forced him to miss last month's Group One BTC Cup and Group One Doomben 10,000.

Latin News' presence in the Stradbroke caused only a minor reshuffle of markets with topweight Whobegotyou easing slightly to $2.90 and Latin News firming to $7.

Latin News will be ridden by Craig Newitt who is chasing his second Stradbroke Handicap following his success on Brisbane filly La Montagna in 2006.

Cummings will also be represented in the Stradbroke by Russeting who will be ridden by Victorian-based Tasmanian apprentice Jason Maskiell.

Maskiell and Tamworth teenager Timothy Bell, who rides the Chris Waller-trained Shellscrape, will be attempting to join an elite group of apprentices to win the Stradbroke Handicap.

Victorian Sebastian Murphy became the first apprentice to win the Stradbroke since Greg Hall's victory on Innisfree in 1978 when he won on Mr Baritone two years ago.

Maskiell will be having his first ride in Queensland on Russeting but it's not his first at Group One level.

He previously rode Tollesprit who finished seventh in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington and Snapy Halo, sixth in the Doncaster Handicap at Randwick.

Mr Baritone, a Jay Ford mount, is back for his third successive Stradbroke after finishing fourth last year.

His trainer Mike Moroney believes speed will be a crucial factor in this year's Stradbroke.

"He's drawn in the middle (barrier 11) and his chances depend on the speed of the race," Moroney said.

"He's done well since his last run but this year's Stradbroke is a lot stronger than in previous years so he'll need to be right at his best."

Mr Baritone hasn't won in 29 starts since his Stradbroke victory but has been placed eight times.

Black Piranha is another looking for his first win since his success in last year's Stradbroke.

Trainer Con Karakatsanis believes Black Piranha has been the forgotten runner in the race.

Black Piranha failed twice at Group One level in the George Ryder and Doncaster Handicap in Sydney in April before heading north for an improved performance last start when fourth to Hot Danish in the Doomben 10,000 last month.

"He's going just as good this year as when he won it last time but this year's Stradbroke does look to be one of the best for a while," Karakatsanis said.

"I thought his run in the 10,000 was full of merit. He went into the race one run short and his run petered out 75 metres from the line.

"A lot of people have forgotten him but his 10,000 run was great, especially chasing home a horse like Hot Danish."