G1 Stradbroke Handicap - history at Eagle Farm
First run as a six furlong contest in 1890 and won by Pyrrhus (Orlando), the Stradbroke kicked off with some nice local history - that horse’s first five dams all being Australian-bred, his fifth dam Stella (Peter Fin {GB}) being a daughter of one of the first stallions imported especially for thoroughbred racehorse breeding.
He was amongst the first thoroughbred stallions registered in the Australian Stud Book whilst Stella was born just five years after the Stud Book recorded the first named imported thoroughbred mare.
The second winner Dan O’Connell (Archie) was a bit different - his dam not recorded in the stud book at all whilst neither the sire or the dam of the third winner Tallboy (Fenman {GB}) had their pedigrees recorded. The fifth winner also goes down in history as “NTB” - ironically named Studbook (Archie)!
Stradbroke H. was first run as a six furlong contest in 1890 and won by Pyrrhus | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
Interestingly the race was still being won by “NTB” horses up to as late as 1983 when Brenaline (NZ) (Bellissimo {Fr}) took the prize.
1895 and 1896 saw the first dual Stradbroke winner, Babel (Glorious {GB}) - a versatile galloper who also won feature events over 12 furlongs. 1897 saw the race’s one and only dead-heat - Dalnair (Archie) and The Scamp (The Rake) whilst the following year it had its first really high class winner; Boreas II (Little Bernie) taking out a number of other big races including the Brisbane Cup and the Queensland Derby.
The 1903 winner Fitz Grafton (Grafton {GB}) had an interesting life, the first 2-year-old winner of the race winning a host of other major races including a couple of runnings of the Viceroy’s Cup in India - his record earning him a place in the Queensland Racing Hall of Fame.
“Interestingly the race was still being won by “NTB” horses up to as late as 1983 when Brenaline took the prize.”
The 1908 winner Satisfaire (NZ) (Birkenhead {Ire}) was the first winner to go onto a successful broodmare career - producing three stakes winners - whilst the 1921 winner Syceonelle (Syce {GB}) was represented by the 1940 Melbourne Cup winner Old Rowley (The Buzzard {GB}).
Highland (Highfield {GB}) took out the 1925 and 1926 runnings - two years after the latter taking that form to Melbourne to win the WS Cox Plate. Meanwhile the 1957 winner Kingster (Star Kingdom {Ire}) - who won under 59kg by 4l in record time - was having the last start of his stellar career, one which saw him win the 1955 Cox Plate.
Kingster and Athol Mulley
Since that time the Stradbroke has been won by many a high class and popular horse, its honour roll boasting such outstanding gallopers as Wiggle (Rego {Ire}), Winfreux (Affreux {Fr}), Rajah Sahib (NZ), Dane Ripper (Danehill {USA}), Rough Habit (NZ) (Roughcast {USA}), All Our Mob (What A Guest {Ire}), Campaign King, Santa Ana Lane (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Alligator Blood (All Too Hard).
So who adds their name to history this year? Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) and Vilana (Hallowed Crown) are well-fancied despite drawing out - the former tough off a wide run when sixth in the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup whilst the latter looked to have plenty in hand racing away to an easy win in the G2 Moreton Cup last weekend.
A trio of Group 1 mares are bound to prove competitive - Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai), Magic Time (Hellbent) and Benedetta (Hellbent) with the former copping the toughest gate (21).
Antino (NZ) | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Queensland’s two leading trainers Tony Gollan and Robert Heathcote are both hoping to secure their city’s biggest race for the first time - Gollan cheering home Antino whilst also looking to get a run with the first emergency Freedom Rally (Rubick) whilst Heathcote is represented by the speedy Prince Of Boom (Spirit Of Boom).
G1 JJ Atkins Stakes - Broadsiding is HOT!
Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) lines up a very short-priced favourite after drawing ideally in barrier 2 in this juvenile feature as he attempts to become the second horse in three years to take out the G2 BRC Sires Produce S./G1 JJ Atkins S. double.
Both races were won two years ago by Sheeza Belter (Gold Standard) with the previous two horses to claim both races being Sizzling in 2012 and Pressday in 2010.
Broadsiding | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Zouna (Zousain) covered ground from an outside gate when a game second in the Sires, a race in which Bittercreek (Snitzel), Smashing Time (Brave Smash {Jpn}) and Barbaric Lad (Brutal {NZ}) also ran well.
Broadsiding, Zouna and Barbaric Lad are joined by Bosustow (Blue Point {Ire}) as the progeny of first-season sires who are all looking for their first Australian Group 1 winners. Smashing Time’s sire and Ardrossan - sire of Beau Dazzler (NZ) - also fit into that category with a big race win by a 2-year-old looking good on any young stallion’s resume.
Imperialist (NZ) is one of the two runners for Churchill (Ire) and he looked good breaking his maiden in the Listed Phoenix S. in which Beau Dazzler ran on nicely to finish fourth. Aemelius (Hellbent) also contested that race, giving a great sight out in front and holding on for a brave second.
“Broadsiding lines up a very short-priced favourite... As he attempts to become the second horse in three years to take out the G2 BRC Sires Produce S./G1 JJ Atkins S. double.”
This race, which has had its share of distance and name changes over the years, has been won by some very nice horses such as Dalrello, Luskin Star, Zeditave, Prince Salieri, Slight Chance (NZ) (Centaine), Mahogany (Last Tycoon {Ire}), Show A Heart, Darci Brahma (NZ) and The Autumn Sun with a number of those horses going on to very successful stud careers.
G2 The Q22 - four in a row for the imports?
A race rebranded from the PJ O’Shea S. to The Q22 in 2021, this Group 2 $1.2 million contest has - since the change - been dominated by imported gallopers; the subsequent G1 Caulfield and G1 Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) taking the prize last year, Numerian (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) the year before and Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}).
As the O’Shea, the race was won on five occasions by the same horse more than once - Scenic Shot (Scenic {Ire}) in 2008 and 2009, Roman Consul (NZ) (Agricola {GB}) in 1969 and 1970, Striking Force (Osborne {Fr}) in 1966 and 1967, Tulloch (NZ) in 1960 and 1961 and Redcraze (NZ) (Red Mars {GB}) in 1956 and 1957.
A feat being attempted on Saturday by Numerian who lines up for his third run in the race, running a solid fifth last year.
Numerian | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
His trainer Annabel Neasham also won this race with Zaaki and she saddles up another four runners including the favourite Fawkner Park (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and the last start G1 Doomben Cup winner Bois D’Argent (GB) (Toronado {Ire}).
Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}) had good support at his local debut only to suffer from cardiac arrhythmia and he is again being kept safe.
Representing the southern hemisphere breed is last year’s G1 Queensland Derby winner Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) who was sound to the line in the Doomben Cup and the grand campaigner Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) who can improve on firmer going.
G2 Brisbane Cup - the two milers
I have to say that it is a bit sad to see this two-miler relegated to an early part of the program, the race which in 2007 lost its Group 1 status for so many years run as the feature on the Monday following the G1 Stradbroke.
But it remains an interesting race for followers of stayers with plenty of tales to be told by the horses in Saturday’s running.
Such as Knights Order (Ire) (So You Think {NZ}) who races over the 3200 metres for the sixth time - contesting two G1 Melbourne Cups, a couple of G1 Sydney Cups (first in 2022, third last year) and the 2021 Brisbane Cup in which he raced away by 4.75l.
Knights Order (Ire)
Selino (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) is also a previous Brisbane and Sydney Cup winner, taking this race out last year and successful at Randwick in 2021 - running in that race on another two occasions as well as contesting a Melbourne Cup.
The pair attempt to become just the sixth horse to win multiple Brisbane Cups, the others being Zanco (NTB), Fitz Grafton (Grafton {GB}), Spear Chief, Fair Patton (Patton {Ity}) and Desert Chill (NZ) (Icelandic {Ire}).
A win by Selino would see a third consecutive Brisbane Cup success for his trainer Chris Waller.
“A win by Selino would see a third consecutive Brisbane Cup success for his trainer Chris Waller.”
Last year’s runner up Warning (Declaration Of War {USA}) also fronts up again whilst others with proven records at the 3200 metres include Amade (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) who comes off a dominant win in the Listed Sandown Cup and the favourite Mostly Cloudy (Ire) (Harzand {Ire}) who keeps racing well without the best of luck.
G2 Dane Ripper Stakes - classy mares in a race named after a classy mare
Named after the terrific Bart Cummings-trained mare who took her 1997 G1 Stradbroke H.-winning form to that year’s G1 WS Cox Plate, the G2 Dane Ripper S. was run three times as a Listed contest from 2003, then four times as a Group 3 race - upgraded to its current status in 2010.
Dane Ripper | Image courtesy of Sportpix
It boasts a good record of being one by mares who have gone on to even bigger and better things - Recurring (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), Hurtle Myrtle (Dane Shadow), Red Tracer (Dane Shadow), Cosmic Endeavour (Northern Meteor), Prompt Response (Beneteau), Invincibella (I Am Invincible) and Palaisipan (So You Think {NZ}) all subsequent Group 1 winners.
And so far four of its winners have enjoyed stakes-winning success as broodmares - Rosa’s Spur (Flying Spur) dam of the Listed winner Members Joy (Hussonet {USA}), Set For Fame (Reset) producing the Listed winner Madeenaty (Exceed And Excel), Hurtle Myrtle represented by the dual Group 3 winner Holyfield (I Am Invincible) and the Listed winner Vamos Bebe (I Am Invincible) and Hazard (Flying Spur) by the Listed winner Endanger (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}).
During its short history it has been won on two occasions by the same horse twice - Red Tracer in 2012 and 2013 and Invincibella in 2018 and 2019 and the connections of Comrade Rosa (Capitalist) will be hoping that she can add her name to that list.
Roots | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Amongst those looking the hardest for her to beat are Roots (Press Statement) who drops back from Group 1 company, Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir) who caught the eye with a strong finish when resuming, Chinny Boom (Spirit Of Boom) who so easily won a Listed race last time out and C’est Magique (Zoustar) who has her first start for the Waller stable after changing hands for $1.7 million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
G3 Gunsynd Classic - promising 3-year-olds
Last year’s winner of this 1600 metres set weights contest for 3-year-olds - Rediener (Redoute’s Choice) went on to G1 Epsom H. success and this year’s running also has some promising types lining up.
Such as the favourite Razors (Sidestep) who is overdue another win having been game in the placings in four consecutive races before a luckless run at Doomben last time out.
A success by Razors would be a first win in this race for the James Cummings stable which is also represented by Amur (Snitzel) who looks ready for the 1600 metres.
Razors | Image courtesy of Godolphin
Chris Waller - who trained last year’s winner - also has a couple of runners; Chrysaor (Better Than Ready) who will need some luck from an outside gate and Mchale (Shooting To Win), another horse who seems to be wanting the mile.
Invincible Spy (I Am Invincible) shows plenty of promise having won four of his first six starts whilst Port Lockroy (Better Than Ready) can bounce back having not been in the best part of the track when contesting the longer G3 Rough Habit Plate.
Geriatrix (Almanzor {Fr}) has looked good making a winning Australian debut and Miss Aria (Zoustar) is another looking to win three in a row.
