Top 10 Stradbroke Handicap winners

[Wandering Eyes]

The Stradbroke Handicap is the jewel in the crown of the Brisbane Winter Carnival, with horses coming from right across the country to contest the $1.5 million race. In 2022, the 1400m event will be run for the 130th time since its inception in 1890, with the race not being run during World War I. HorseBetting’s Queensland racing analyst has gone over the past 30 winners, and brings you his top 10 winners of the Stradbroke.

10. La Montagna (2006)

In 2006, three-year-old La Montagna stole the show in the famous handicap. After winning the Fred Best Classic two starts prior to earn herself ballot exemption into the Stradbroke, Barry Baldwin’s filly beat the handicapper, getting in with just 48.5kg. Ridden by Craig ‘Froggy’ Newitt, the daughter of Monashee Mountain was forced a long way back and was caught three and four wide for the entirety of the race after jumping from barrier 18, but she was able to overcome it and let down with a brilliant turn of foot. In winning, she was able to defeat the BTC Cup winner Gee I Jane.
 

9. Sincero (2011)

It was a star-studded field in 2011. Black Piranha was shooting for three straight Stradbroke wins, Beaded was back for another attempt, Buffering was in the field, Sniper’s Bullet was trying to win another Stradbroke, and the new kid on the block – Sincero – stepped out in his first Group 1 race. Sincero would have been something licked if he didn’t get there, having a chequered passage from about the 600m. The three-year-old knuckled down to the task late, shooting through at the 150m to win in nice fashion and earn his spot on the honour board.
 

8. Linton (2013)

Everybody loves a grey, and while Linton probably wasn’t the most popular winner on course that day at the ripe odds of $26 with online bookmakers, the win was full of merit. Despite jumping from barrier 16 in the 18-horse field, the John Sadler-trained galloper never went around anything, driving through along the rails to win. Champion sprinter Buffering looked to give a winning kick at the top of the straight as he shot away from Hot Snitzel, Streama, Spirit Of Boom and Solzhenitsyn, but it wasn’t enough as the ghostly grey stormed home under Nick Hall. It was one of the all-time great Stradbroke rides.
 

7. River Lad (2014)

It was a Damien Oliver special in 2014 as River Lad crossed from the wide barrier to lead the Stradbroke field. Although the locally trained galloper didn’t get much peace out in front with Temple Of Boom holding the fence, he was able to absorb the pressure and lift off the canvas inside the final 100m. Fellow Queenslander Temple Of Boom fought on gamely too, making it a real nail-biter in the straight if you were on either of the two. River Lad lifted when it mattered, though, under the urgings of Oliver, winning the Stradbroke at any old price.
 

6. Tofane (2021)

Tofane will go down as one of the better mares to have won Brisbane’s famous race. Following a long drought, the daughter of Ocean Park bounced back in fine style to win the 2021 edition in brilliant fashion. Giving Michael Moroney his second Stradbroke (after Mr Baritone in 2008), Tofane defeated a strong field which included Group 1 winners Vega One and Mr Quickie. Jockey Craig Williams got the mare in a lovely spot from barrier 10, and despite a brief challenge by runner-up and favourite Vega One, she never really looked like getting beaten.
 

5. Dane Ripper (1997)

The Bart Cummings-trained Dane Ripper gave the ‘Cups King’ a Stradbroke victory in 1997. The three-year-old filly was well weighted with only 50kg on her back, giving Chris Munce another Group 1 victory in the saddle. She jumped and settled down midfield from barrier nine before blowing her rivals away to win by almost two lengths. Later in 1997, Dane Ripper would go on to win the Cox Plate at $41 odds under Damien Oliver.
 

4. Santa Ana Lane (2018)

With Eagle Farm undergoing some renovations, the Stradbroke was held at Doomben in 2018 over 1350m, but that didn’t worry Santa An Lane. Having drawn barrier three, the gelding got a lovely run in transit before the run along the fence opened right up for him and jockey Ben Melham. While he was slightly wayward in the straight, the Goodwood Handicap winner was too classy for the field, shooting away to win by 1.75 lengths in one of the more popular Stradbroke results.
 

3. Under The Louvre (2016)

While the top two pick themselves really, Under The Louvre is our favourite Stradbroke winner – probably due to the fact we were on him in 2016. After finishing second to Black Heart Bart the start prior in the Goodwood, that pair once again fought it out in the Stradbroke, clearing out from the rest of the field to engage in an epic battle down the Eagle Farm straight. The weight swing worked in Under The Louvre’s favour, though, as Dwayne Dunn stretched every sinew to get the best out of his mount. With the official margin only one-tenth of a length, the 2016 Stradbroke will go down as one of the greats.
 

2. Black Piranha (2009 & 2010)

Con Karakatsansis’ Black Piranha recorded back-to-back wins in the Stradbroke in 2009 and 2010, and despite going into the 2010 edition as the reigning champion with only an extra half-kilo in his saddlecloth, he was completely overlooked. In 2009, the son of Clang started as a $4 favourite following a fast-finishing second in the Doomben 10,000 the start prior, but when he returned in 2010, he was sent out as a $21 chance. He didn’t know his price, though, as Nash Rawiller was forced to come wide and get stuck into the galloper. It was a mighty finish to the 2010 edition, with Melito, Mic Mac and Beaded all less than half a length away in the minor numbers.
 

1. Rough Habit (1991 & 1992)

Was there ever any doubt? You might not see a better win on a racetrack than Rough Habit’s victory in the 1992 Stradbroke Handicap. The Kiwi horse was ridden by Kiwi hoop Jimmy ‘Pumper’ Cassidy in his back-to-back Stradbroke wins, but it was the ’92 win that etched his name in the history books. After winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and All Aged Stakes in Sydney during the autumn, Rough Habit had to lug 58.5kg in his Stradbroke defence that June, and despite a torrid run in transit, he was still able to get the job done. This Saturday will mark 30 years since that famous victory, and in that time, no horse has won the race with 56.5kg or more, highlighting just how good that 1992 win was.
 

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