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 $1m to the winner.
PROFILING THE RACE
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 and few coming through the race as well.
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 Over this short period 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 (4 times)o Last 10 Winners Average Weight of winner - 53.0kg
o Last 10 Winners Average Price of winner - $15o Breakdown of winners - 7 geldings, 1 entire, 1 mare & 1 filly
o Races that the winner ran in prior - Doomben 10,000 (6), Sir Edward Williams Stks (1), Gunsynd Stks (1), QTC Cup (1), RA Lee Stks (1)RECENT WINNERS
2013 - LINTON 6g (Galileo x Our Heather) ($26)
Jockey: Nick Hall, Trainer: John SadlerBarrier: 16, Weight: 54.5kg, Gross Time: 1:22.06
Margin: 0.8L, Track: Dead, Starters: 182nd: Buffering (58.0kg), 3rd: Streama (54.5kg)
Review: Sometimes there are genuine shocks in racing and this was one. Not to say Linton was not a good horse but he met a fantastic field in the 2013 Stradbroke and took on a group of 3yos who were winning absolutely everything. It was not run that manically quickly as it can be and Buffering got control. Linton was last with 500m to go. At the furlong Buffering looked to be finally going to win his G1 then the ghostly grey flashed along the rails like a greyhound, not going around a horse. The 3yos were nowhere to be seen. In the end he won by ¾ length.
2012 - MID SUMMER MUSIC 6m (Oamaru Force x Samsara Lady) ($31)
Jockey: Luke Nolen, Trainer: Peter MoodyBarrier: 5, Weight: 53.5kg, Gross Time: 1:23.06
Margin: 1.8L, Track: Dead, Starters: 182nd: Buffering (58.0kg), 3rd: Happy Zero (56.0kg)
Review: Moody was on fire. He’d won the Derby and was cleaning up everywhere. But this was a bonus really. Nolen put her away on the fence, doing little from the good gate. She had many of the main chances in front of her but on the dead surface was able to use the light weight to pick them off through the field. As the brave Buffering looked set to get his first G1, MSM surged underneath him and came away for a fairly comprehensive win.
Barrier: 3, Weight: 50.5kg, Gross Time: 1:22.89
Margin: 0.2L, Track: Good, Starters: 182nd: Beaded (54.0kg), 3rd: Zero Rock (52.0kg)
Review: He was the short favourite for the Stradbroke in the lead up. Especially when the champion sprinters Black Caviar and Hay List didn’t look to run. But then the great mock of the QTC Cup saw him drift after drawing inside where he hated it and ran a shocker. It dented the confidence of the punters but not the trainer. Still he draw gate 3 and Jason Taylor got him into the moving lane early. He was in the pack but tracking the honest mare and 10,000 winner Beaded. Just as she surged clear he tracked her up, got off heels and nabbed her late.
