3 minute read
Historical Analysis of the Stradbroke Handicap
While southerners are quick to point to the Newmarket or the Lightning or the TJ Smith as the best sprints in the nation, the Stradbroke can’t be far behind.
It usually produces some great races and some brilliant winners who go onto better things like Private Steer, Dane Ripper, Adam and All Our Mob. See the Straddies as they strive for success and the big prize to the winner.
PROFILING THE RACE
o Run at Doomben in 2015 and again in 2017 due to Eagle Farm track issues.
o Despite the first prize, the Stradbroke is one of the G1s in Australia that has not been dominated by the leading stables in recent years.
o Great race for Victorian jockeys.
o It’s been a top race for the more obscure stallions rather than the big names.
o No horse has done the 10,000/Stradbroke double since Campaign King did it in 1988. 10,000 placegetters have done well like Black Piranha, Private Steer, Show a Heart, Adam etc.
o QTC Cup winners have an absolutely shocking record in the Stradbroke with no winners.
o Like the Doncaster Hcp and Oakleigh Plate, 3yos have great profile.
o Before Black Piranha, only outright favourite to win since 1996 was Private Steer in 2003.
o Only two winners have carried more than 56kg to win in the last 40 years (Rough Habit and Campaign King).
o Winners can come from any barrier.
o Since 2000 only Show a Heart and Black Piranha had won a G1 prior to their Stradbroke win.
o Rough Habit was the last repeat winner before 2010.
o Last 10 Winners Most Prevalent Age of winner - 6yo (5 times)
o Last 10 Winners Average Weight of winner - 53.5kg
o Last 10 Winners Average Price of winner - $18
o Breakdown of winners - 7 geldings, 2 mares & 1 entire
o Races that the winner ran in prior - Doomben 10,000 (4), Sir Edward Williams Stks (1), Gunsynd Stks (1), QTC Cup (1), RA Lee Stks (1), BRC Sprint (1), Goodwood (1).
RECENT WINNERS
2016 - UNDER THE LOUVRE 5h (Excellent Art x Barcelona Girl) ($11)
Jockey: Dwayne Dunn, Trainer: Robert SmerdonBarrier: 13, Weight: 54.5kg, Gross Time: 1:23.72
Margin: 0.1L, Track: Good (4), Starters: 182nd: Black Heart Bart (58.0kg), 3rd: The Virginian (50.5kg)
Review: Long thought of as a bit of a bridesmaid, and arguably not a 1400m horse, Under The Louvre won his first G1.
Originally with Tony Vasil, who on this same day made his comeback to race training, this horse had placed in four G1s prior and only once won at the trip. He had been a close second to Black Heart Bart in the Goodwood and they reversed things here.
Getting moving at the 600m, he tracked BHB everywhere he went. They settled down to fight it out at the furlong and that pull in the weights was probably the key.
2015 - SRIKANDI 4m (Dubawi x Raining) ($12)
Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy, Trainer: Ciaron MaherBarrier: 1, Weight: 53.0kg, Gross Time: 1:18.26
Margin: 1.8L, Track: Good (3), Starters: 152nd: Boban (58.0kg), 3rd: Generalife (54.5kg)
Review: Sometimes things happen for the best but just a little later than hoped. After running as a 3yo filly last year and competitively coming third when favourite, Srikandi turned it around going to Doomben.
After some issues with her feet and just fair efforts in the lead up G1s, she found the front on the rails in a relatively slowly run race. Although headed for much of the race McEvoy never gave up the fence.
He kicked on the turn, established the margin and ran away late. The place getters were unlucky not to be closer but Doomben does that often. Could have been different at Eagle Farm but them’s the breaks.
2014 - RIVER LAD 6g (Top Echelon x Ikeymo) ($31)
Jockey: Damien Oliver, Trainer: Natalie McCallBarrier: 15, Weight: 55.0kg, Gross Time: 1:21.66
Margin: 0.1L, Track: Good (3), Starters: 182nd: Temple Of Boom (56.0kg), 3rd: Srikandi (51.0kg)
Review: Yet again wide barriers meant nothing in a Stradbroke. But for some reason punters and connections worry too much about that. However in the grand scheme of things for the Queenslanders, no one could care.
River Lad was a top little sprinter who had very decent form including running second to Appearance in the Expressway. He’d toughed it out in the BRC Sprint but while that hadn’t always been a great guide, you knew he would try his best.
This was a feature race Oliver had not won and yet no one wanted to ride the local. He popped him up outside Temple Of Boom and from there it was history. Nothing from the tail got into the race with the first three around the bend running the trifecta which is unusual for a Stradbroke.
On a sad day when great Brisbane race caller Wayne Wilson passed away, he would have loved what occurred to see the locals clean up the big names.