The Stradbroke Handicap is the best race Queensland has to offer, and as such, has always attracted a high-class field. 2014 will be no exception, with five individual Group l winners set to take their place in the toughest 1400m race in the country. Below is a Runner By Runner Preview of the great race.
Spirit Of Boom – 6YO Horse
Trainer: Tony Gollan
Jockey: Michael Rodd
Weight: 57.5kg
Barrier: 6
Form: Got the most recent runs on the board leading into this race, and is weighted accordingly. He was a question mark beyond 1200m, but being held up for a couple of strides longer in the Doomben 10,000 allowed him to find the line with purpose at the end of 1350m.
That was the form race heading into this one, but take note that only four last start winners have saluted in the Stradbroke in the past 30 years. He’ll have to defy history if he is to go to stud on a winning note.
Rebel Dane – 4YO Horse
Trainer: Gary Portelli
Jockey: Tommy Berry
Weight: 56.5kg
Barrier: 22
Form: Has promised so much in his career, and did fulfill a part of that by winning the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last Spring. He was superb first up in the T.J. Smith (1200m) behind Lankan Rupee, the world’s best sprinter, then was disappointing in the All Aged group before being freshened up and eventually running in the Doomben 10,000.
On face value, he was quite good considering he was back and wide in a slowly run race, and did pull hard in the run. But on the other side, Bossy said after the race there was nothing there when he asked for the effort. That opinion has to be respected, and that is why he is on Srikandi, but the horse loses nothing with the booking of Tommy Berry, who is fast becoming the best big race rider in the world.
Horror barrier, but with the emergencies coming out, he’ll come into barrier 18, and that gate has had the most success in recent years.
Famous Seamus – 5YO Gelding
Trainer: Noel Mayfield-Smith
Jockey: Ryan Wiggins
Weight: 55.5kg
Barrier: 10
Form: Somewhat of a surprise winner in the BTC Cup, then failed in the 10,000m so it’s hard to assess his chances going into this race. Has always promised to perform at this level, and did so successfully two runs back, but that last effort does worry me a touch, so I’m happy to let him go.
Red Tracer – 6YO Mare
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Nash Rawiller
Weight: 56kg
Barrier: 16
Form: Champion mare who has nothing left to prove on the race track…apart from winning a big one against the boys. She is near unbeatable when against the mares, but when it comes to open company, she is competitive without winning.
Last seen in the Queen Of The Turf where she came in a gutsy third to Diamond Drille and has looked sharp in two recent barrier trial wins. Brilliant fresh record and loves Eagle Farm. Barrier is a concern, but both stable and rider are having a fabulous Brisbane Carnival.
Temple Of Boom – 7YO Gelding
Trainer: Tony Gollan
Jockey: Tegan Harrison
Weight: 56kg
Barrier: 18
Form: Bit surprised to see a gap in betting between Spirit Of Boom and Temple Of Boom, because I think Temple Of Boom represents the great value here. Connections have ridden him more aggressively from the gates since coming back from a failed Sydney campaign, and he has been fantastic, winning the Victory Stakes before running fourth and second respectively in the BTC Cup and Doomben 10,000. He meets his brother 2kg better off for a last stride loss in the 10,000m so at the price, I think he represents the better value, despite the barrier.
Smokin’ Joey – 6YO Gelding
Trainer: Wez Hunter
Jockey: Ben Melham
Barrier: 3
Weight: 55.5kg
Form: A horse that had raced quite poorly during the early part of the Autumn, but bounced back to some form with good efforts at Flemington and Caulfield respectively before going to the Goodwood at Morphettville and booming down the outside from near last to score an amazing win. Hard horse to follow, but a repeat of the Goodwood win would see him right in the mix.
River Lad – 6YO Gelding
Trainer: Natalie McCall
Jockey: Damien Oliver
Weight: 55kg
Barrier: 19
Form: Tough local who earned his spot in the field with a gutsy on pace win in the BRC Sprint. Loves racing at Eagle Farm, but is better suited over slightly shorter than 1400m and is drawn poorly here for a horse who prefers to be ridden close to the speed. In saying that, there is speed drawn around him, so Olly could look to get a drag across and find some cover. Still, I think I’d rather watch than back.
Conservatorium – 6YO Gelding
Trainer: Gary Kennewell
Jockey: Joe Bowditch
Weight: 54kg
Barrier: 2
Form: Form at the moment isn’t good enough to win, however he has drawn a good gate and will be much better suited at Eagle Farm compared to Doomben. Also note the gear change of the blinkers going back on. That could spark improvement. Like I said, his form at the moment isn’t attractive, but he is a tough campaigner who should get a lovely run from the gate.
Sacred Star – 4YO Gelding
Trainer: Tony Pike
Jockey: Tim Bell
Weight: 53.5kg
Barrier: 20
Form: The biggest street corner tip last week in the QTC Cup and duly saluted. Raced quite fresh and was much closer to the speed than normal pattern back home in New Zealand. He toughed it out to win so I don’t have any worries about him backing up.
The worries I have are the fact that only four last start winners have saluted in the past 30 years of the Stradbroke, and no horse in history has done the QTC Cup/Stradbroke double. But he is a very good horse, so it wouldn’t shock me if he won.
Knoydart – 4YO Gelding
Trainer: John O’Shea
Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
Weight: 53.5kg
Barrier: 14
Form: Knoydart was quite good I thought in the Doomben 10,000 considering he was out the back in a slowly run race, and add on pace bias to that, his effort to make up ground late was really eye catching, and he still appeared to have upside left. Did place behind Lankan Rupee a couple of times at Group l level during the Autumn and gets in here with 53kg. He’ll prove very hard to beat.
Belltone – 8YO Gelding
Trainer: Kelso Wood
Jockey: Eddie Wilkinson
Weight: 53.5kg
Barrier: 4
Form: Led them up in the QTC Cup last week and tired late. Draws much better and gets weight relief, but I’ll raise the bat and let him go through to the keeper.
Velrosso – 5YO Gelding
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Larry Cassidy
Weight: 52.5kg
Barrier: 21
Form: Nice horse who worked home well first up in the Luskin Star during the Scone Carnival, but I think they are aiming a bit high here. Then again, how could you rule out a Chris Waller runner in a major?
Emblems – 4YO Horse
Trainer: John O’Shea
Jockey: Chad Schofield
Weight: 52.5kg
Barrier: 8
Form: Nice horse for Darley, but he was comfortably held in the Luskin Star and will struggle running a strong 1400m against this lot. Not for me.
Reparations – 5YO Gelding
Trainer: Anthony Freedman
Jockey: Daniel Moor
Weight: 52.5kg
Barrier: 13
Form: Tough win at Stakes level last start at Caulfield back in early May. Hasn’t raced since, but was a slick trial winner at Doomben last week and ran a decent time. Doesn’t have the class of some of these, but that trial did make my ears prick. Throw him in your exotics at massive odds.
Lucky Hussler – 4YO Gelding
Trainer: Kent Fleming
Jockey: Jason Taylor
Weight: 52.5kg
Barrier: 11
Form: No.
Scorpio Queen – 5YO Mare
Trainer: Kris Lees
Jockey: Jim Byrne
Weight: 52.5kg
Barrier: 12
Form: Handy mare now in the care of Kris Lees. She performed really well during the Summer/Autumn, including a close up sixth in the Coolmore Classic. Trialled well, but she doesn’t have the class to beat these.
Srikandi – 3YO Filly
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Jockey: Glen Boss
Weight: 51kg
Barrier: 17
Form: This is the boom filly. Couple of weeks ago, most were saying she was the horse to beat for the Stradbroke, but as the dust has settled and the race is closer, people are starting to see that, from a punting perspective, she is massive unders at around the $5 mark. I’ll concede she is talented, but beating up mares at Doomben is a whole different ball game to winning the toughest 1400m race in Australia. Only champion fillies win the Stradbroke, and I don’t think she is that hence I’m taking her on.
Hucklebuck – 3YO Gelding
Trainer: Phillip Stokes
Jockey: Dom Tourneur
Weight: 51kg
Barrier: 1
Form: Star three year old who was highly impressive in his first two runs back from a spell, then failed in the Australian Guineas before being freshened up, and was ridden upside down due to the on pace bias when fourth in the Fred Best Classic (1350m). He is much better when he has something to chase, and with cover (so from barrier one) Tourneur has plenty of options. Ability and potential wise, he is the best horse in the race, and the smart money has come from him.
Masthead – 5YO Gelding (First Emergency)
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Chris Munce
Weight: 52.5kg
Barrier: 15
Form: Tried very hard last Saturday when a narrow second to Sacred Star. Did lose a plate in the run, so that adds more merit to the performance, but it has been a very long time since he has won, so I’m happy to ignore him even if he gains a start.
Into The Red – 3YO Colt (Second Emergency)
Trainer: Kelso Wood
Jockey:
Weight: 51kg
Barrier: 5
Form: Wasn’t bad last week in the Queensland Guineas given he was held up badly at a crucial stage. But he isn’t a Stradbroke winner in my eyes.
Havana – 3YO Gelding (Third Emergency)
Trainer: Paul Messara
Jockey:
Weight: 51kg
Barrier: 9
Form: Had his chance in the Guineas and failed dismally, so It’d be a major, major shock if he gained a start and won.
Belle De Coeur – 4YO Mare (Fourth Emergency)
Trainer: Luke Price
Jockey:
Weight: 52.5kg
Barrier: 7
Form: Nice mare, but not up to this level.
Scream Machine – 5YO Gelding (Fifth Emergency)
Trainer: Jason Coyle
Jockey:
Weight: 52.5kg
Barrier: 23
Form: Real shame he won’t get a start here because he was the real eye catcher in the 10,000m making up good ground between runners. Given he is fifth emergency, he more than likely won’t get a run, but if he does, he is a great outside chance.
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