The richest race on the Queensland racing calendar is the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap run over 1400m at Eagle Farm under handicap conditions.
First run in 1890, the honour roll does not include many of Australia’s champion weight-for-age sprinting horses.
The conditions of the race contribute to many horses skipping the race due to their allocated weight and there are two Group 1 sprinting races at weight for age in the weeks leading into the Stradbroke.
In fact, just two winners have carried more than 56kg to victory in the last 40 years.
It’s also worth noting that the best horses are simply targeted at races during the autumn and spring carnivals and for many Queensland is an afterthought.
So what does it take to win a Stradbroke Handicap? Where should the punters be looking?
My suggestions would be to look beyond the obvious.
Punters struggle to settle on a favourite in the Straddie, partly because the most proven sprinters at this level simply aren’t there, but when they are, they have a poor record.
Just three favourites have won the race since 2004.
Although last start winners have an ordinary record in the race recently, stats suggest an in-form horse wins the race.
Just four winners of the Stradbroke Handicap in the last 20 years are last start winners but 10 of the last 12 have finished the first three in their lead up run.
Three of the last five have won or placed in the BRC Sprint before winning Queensland’s premier race.
Many punters will shy away from horses that draw wide in these big field handicaps but that doesn’t seem to worry horses saluting in the Stradbroke.
20 winners since 1983 have jumped from double figure barriers and just two from the last 12 have been inside gate eight.
And don’t let a big price deter you.
11 of the last 13 winners have a starting price of $11 or more.
So, an in form horse that is not carrying too much weight that has drifted in betting because of a wide barrier.
Who fits that profile in 2025.
Rob Heathcote saddles up his excellent Queensland sprinter Rothfire who finished second behind Sunshine In Paris in the Doomben 10,000 on a heavy track.
He’s much better on a firm surface, the best jockey in the country James McDonald climbs aboard, and he’s been an early drift in betting out to $16 thanks to barrier 17.
Front Page dominated his rivals last Saturday in the Group 2 Moreton Handicap and drops 2.5kgs for this.
Drawn barrier 20 and is $23.
Far Too Easy is another that fits the profile and is looking to replicate Alligator Blood and Tofane by finishing second in the BRC Sprint and then winning the Stradbroke.
He meets War Machine 3kg better at the weights and is currently $35.