2025 Stradbroke Handicap Day Preview 

Stradbroke Handicap Day is set to deliver a spectacular Saturday of racing at Eagle Farm, as Stradbroke Season reaches its thrilling peak. 

The $3 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap headlines a blockbuster program, supported by the Group 1 J.J. Atkins and the Group 2 Q22.  

Each race is black-type and brings its own intrigue, with elite sprinters, emerging two-year-olds, and middle-distance stars all vying for their moment in the spotlight. 

The supporting races add further depth, with the Dane Ripper Stakes, Gunsynd Classic, and Brisbane Cup ensuring there’s no shortage of quality across the card.  

With nine races on the program, it’s a day that promises action from start to finish. 

Let’s break down the program and chase some bread. Here are my top tips for every race on Saturday’s Stradbroke Handicap Day card. 

Pisces (1) was luckless last start in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic and can bounce back in the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic with conditions to suit. 

The James Cummings-trained gelding settled too far back but saved ground and loomed in the straight only to be inconvenienced in the straight.  

Despite that, he still registered the quickest final 600m and 200m of the race to finish a neck third and that suggests to me that he’s ready for a mile. 

He’s rock hard fit and gets in well under the set weight conditions of the race. 

1 Unit Each Way – Pisces (1)    

Pier (4) took all before him as a three-year-old when winning the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas. 

Unfortunately, the son of Proisir’s career has been far from smooth since then, but he appears back to his best. 

The Darryn & Briar Weatherley-trained five-year-old found the line powerfully to miss the win in the Listed City of Napier Sprint at Trentham by a nose prior to coming to Queensland. 

He was excellent in the Group BRC Sprint last start when settling a long way back from the outside barrier before finding the line well to finish 3.3 lengths third to Stradbroke Handicap favourite War Machine. 

He was six weeks between runs so will have tightened up nicely, and he’s drawn to settle a lot closer for Ethan Brown. 

1 Unit – Pier (4)       

Etna Rosso (3) has been building throughout this preparation and looks ready to win. 

The Chris Waller-trained gelding found the line well off a six-week break despite being held up to finish 1.3 lengths second in the Gosford Gold Cup two starts back. 

Last start he was caught wide in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup over 2400m but still worked home well in the driving rain to finish 1.8 lengths second to Campaldino who he now meets 2kg better at the weights. 

James McDonald is back in the saddle and is undefeated in two rides on him.  

1 Unit – Etna Rosso (3)           

Quietly Arrogant (1) returns to the races as a gelding and I think the procedure can turn his fortunes around. 

The Peter Snowden-trained son of Capitalist was very good when finding the line well to finish a neck third when resuming in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes. 

Unfortunately, he then finished at the tail in the Group 1 Golden Slipper and Group 3 Baillieu before being sent for a spell. 

Being gelded looked to have got his mind on racing if his recent trial where he cruised to an easy win is anything to go by. 

I like the booking of James McDonald and he should give him a sweet run from barrier 2. 

1 Unit – Quietly Arrogant (1)      

Need Some Luck (7) returns here from a seven-week let-up after getting a long way back in the Australian Turf Club Trophy at the Gold Coast and finding the line well for a 1.5 length second.  

The Peter Snowden-trained gelding races well fresh as proven first-up this preparation over 1200m at Randwick where despite being caught wide on speed, he impressively proved too strong in the run home to win by a neck. 

He’s since had a trial and looked super charging down the outside under a hold to win comfortably. 

There looks to be plenty of speed in the race which should space the field out and help Tommy Berry find a spot with cover.  

1 Unit – Need Some Luck (7) 

Hidden Achievement (8) ventures north from Sydney in good form and looks primed for the Group 1 Ladbrokes J.J. Atkins. 

The Chris Waller-trained I Am Invincible colt was excellent two starts ago when winning over 1200m at Gosford with something in hand. 

He was doing his best work late last start over 1300m at Rosehill where he ran through the line for a neck third. 

Blinkers looked like they would improve him greatly and they go on here for the first time as does James McDonald who will give him an economical run. 

1 Unit Each Way – Hidden Achievement (8)     

Firestorm (4) returns to the races for the first time since finishing tenth in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile. 

The Chris Waller-trained mare flies fresh having won four of five first-up races including last preparation when she returned with a bang, storming home to win the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes over this distance. 

She’s warmed up for the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes with two trials with the most recent producing a nice piece of work behind Private Eye. 

There doesn’t look to be a great deal of speed in the race, but we get the services of James McDonald who I’ll trust to settle in a decent position and give her every chance. 

2 Units – Firestorm (4)         

I’ve been with War Machine (7) every run this preparation and I don’t intend to jump off now that he’s reached his grand final, the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap. 

Sometimes we get so caught up trying to find an upset that we overlook the obvious choice. 

I won’t be doing that with War Machine and I’m happy to stick with the favourite who gives me very similar vibes to Think About It when he won this race two years ago. 

Unlike many of his rivals, everything has moved perfectly towards this target. For instance, runners that come through the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup should be two weeks between runs but are now on the quick back-up.  

The Lindsay Park gelding was unlucky not to win the Listed Hareeba Stakes first-up but made up for it with a strong win over 1400m at Caulfield second-up. 

He was awesome last start in the Group 3 BRC Sprint when letting down powerfully and drawing clear late to win by 2.6 lengths.  

While Tim Clark replaces the injured Blake Shinn, ‘TC’ is no slouch and will give his mount who is at peak fitness every chance. 

2 Units – War Machine (7)   

Fawkner Park (1) can send us home as winners on Stradbroke Handicap Day and win back-to-back Group 2 The Q22 titles. 

The Annabel & Rob Archibald-trained gelding produced a devastating turn of foot in last year’s edition to brain his rivals including Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice by 3.8 lengths.  

He has been building to something similar this preparation after chasing home the mighty Antino in his past two races when finishing second in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes and Group 1 Doomben Cup.  

There’s no Antino here and he’s in peak condition so he should take a power of beating. 

2 Units – Fawkner Park (1)