The Stradbroke Handicap is the biggest race held in Queensland each year as part of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival. It is a handicap as the race name suggests and takes place over 1400m at Eagle Farm Racecourse during the month of June. The minimum weight allocated is 51kg.
First held in 1890 when captured by Pyrrhus, the Stradbroke Handicap has grown into the premier race in Brisbane with local and interstate trainers alike keen to win one of the biggest races on the racing calendar. That’s before mentioning the prizemoney on offer which amounts to $1.5 million. Winning connections walk away with $900,000 and horses are paid down to 10th place. Runners that finish between sixth and 10th receive $18,000 for their efforts.
The race name, Stradbroke, comes from Lord Stradbroke, who was a relative to Admiral Henry John Rous, the man who helped create the weight-for-age scale used in thoroughbred racing.
In 1980, Ducatoon was first past the post but later disqualified after returning a positive swab; the new winner of the 1980 Stradbroke Handicap was awarded to Bemboka Yacht.
Two other Group 1 races are conducted on Stradbroke Handicap Day. The first is for three-year-old stayers in the Queensland Derby (2400m). The second is for two-year-olds in the JJ Atkins Plate (1600m).
Several horses have been able to go back-to-back in the Stradbroke Handicap. The first was Babel in 1895 and 1896. Since then, the following horses have achieved the feat – Gold Tie (1918-19), Highland (1925-26), Petrol Lager (1934-35), Lucky Ring (1949-50), Rough Habit (1991-92) and Black Piranha (2009-10).
The John Wheeler-trained Rough Habit won the Queensland Derby in 1990, three-straight Doomben Cups between 1991-93, two All Aged Stakes in 1992 and 1993, a Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 1992 and Caulfield Stakes in 1994. His 74 starts saw him win 29 races and place a further 23 times. He was named New Zealand Horse of the Year in 1992 and 1995 and was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.
All Our Mob captured the 1994 Stradbroke Handicap for trainer Gai Waterhouse. He would also win the Newmarket Handicap in 1995, Mackinnon Stakes in 1996 and All Aged Stakes in 1997.
The Cups King, Bart Cummings, prepared 1997 Stradbroke Handicap winner Dane Ripper. She was best known for capturing the Cox Plate in 1997 at odds of 40/1 when ridden by Damien Oliver. Filante, the 11/8 favourite, finished 1.5 lengths away in second place. Dane Ripper would also win the Australian Cup and Manikato Stakes in 1998.
Other notable winners of the Stradbroke Handicap include Campaign King (1988), Toledo (1998), Show A Heart (2002), Private Steer (2003), Sincero (2011) and Santa Ana Lane (2018).
For racing tips from major race meetings at Eagle Farm, including the Stradbroke Handicap, head to our Eagle Farm racing tips page.
