BRISBANE February 6 AAP - New Zealand Group One winner Survived could be a surprise starter in the Stradbroke Handicap during the Brisbane winter carnival.

There has been a worry in Brisbane that Sydney's outstanding $12million autumn carnival could have a major impact on the standard of winter racing.

While Sydney officials are chasing European horses, the Brisbane Race Club (BRC) has been shoring up its traditional visiting horse base across the Tasman.

Hastings trainer John Barry has told BRC officials he is considering giving Survived his chance to win the Group One Stradbroke's $1 million first prize on June 7 without a lead-up run.

Survived won the Group One Makfi Challenge over the Stradbroke distance (1400m) at Hastings last August.

As a Group One winner Survived is eligible for a state government grant of $25,000 to cover his costs of travel to Brisbane.

Survived has made one trip to Australia having two runs in Brisbane during the last winter carnival.

He finished second to Hawkspur in the Rough Habit Plate at Doomben and then a very unlucky eighth to Hawkspur in the Queensland Derby (2400m).

Barry's filly Miss Selby is the current favourite for the Group One $300,000 New Zealand Oaks at Trentham on March 15.

If she wins the Oaks she will also be eligible for the travel grant and could be headed to Brisbane for the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) on May 31.