Stradbroke Handicap runner-up Hard To Catch will attempt to end a 19-year hoodoo which has denied Queensland of a victory in the Group Three Cameron Handicap at Newcastle on Tuesday.The last Queenslander to win the Cameron Handicap was the Noel Doyle-trained Don't Play in 1989.Toowoomba sprinter Kenconcarne, who was trained by Rex Lipp, is the only other Queensland sprinter to be placed in the 1400-metre feature in the past 20 years when runner-up to Mulan Princess in 2000.Hard To Catch, who was

Stradbroke Handicap runner-up Hard To Catch will attempt to end a 19-year hoodoo which has denied Queensland of a victory in the Group Three Cameron Handicap at Newcastle on Tuesday.

The last Queenslander to win the Cameron Handicap was the Noel Doyle-trained Don't Play in 1989.

Toowoomba sprinter Kenconcarne, who was trained by Rex Lipp, is the only other Queensland sprinter to be placed in the 1400-metre feature in the past 20 years when runner-up to Mulan Princess in 2000.

Hard To Catch, who was narrowly beaten by Mr Baritone in the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June, arrived safely by float in Newcastle just after midday (AEST) on Tuesday.

Trainer Pat Duff floated the seven-year-old to Newcastle in two stages with an overnight stop-over at Coffs Harbour before completing the final four hour stage of the trip on Tuesday morning.

Duff is excited about Hard To Catch's Cameron chances following his last start fourth under 59.5 kilograms to Caulfield Guineas-bound Rockdale in a 1400-metre Open Handicap at Eagle Farm 10 days ago.

Duff has never had a Newcastle runner and is using the Cameron Handicap as a final lead-up with Hard To Catch before the Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on October 4.

Don't Play went on to finish second to the Bill Mitchell-trained From The Planet in the 1989 Epsom Handicap following his Cameron Handicap triumph that year.

Hard To Catch, who received 52 kilograms in the Epsom Handicap, also will be aiming to become the first Queenslander since Doyle's top performer Kinjite won the Randwick feature in 1992.

Duff hasn't had the opportunity to study the Cameron Handicap field while he's been behind the wheel driving Hard To Catch to Newcastle.

"I really liked his last run and looking at him before and after the race he probably needed it," he said.

"The Cameron should be a nice race for him as there's normally a lot of speed on which he likes but I haven't had a chance yet to look at the field properly.

"He's got barrier one which will help even though he'll get back. It'll give him time to settle and I expect him to be nearer last than first at the 800 metres.

"If he pulls up well he'll run in the Epsom and I couldn't be disappointed with the weight he got as I thought he might get 1.5 kilos more."

Duff, who also has never had an Epsom starter, rates Ashikaga as the main threat to Hard To Catch in the Cameron.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained five-year-old is unbeaten in four starts and is joint-favourite with stablemate Bank Robber at $5 in early Epsom markets.