3 minute read
Chris Scholtz previews the 2025 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on June 14 plus best bets and selections for all races
As always the 2025 Stradbroke Handicap is a wide open affair with numerous chances at value odds.
The traditional lead up races should lead you to the winner, the key events being the G3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben and the G1 Kingsford Smith (1300m) at Eagle Farm. Five of the last six Stradbroke winners have come through these two races.
The standout in the prep races has been the BRC Sprint winner (7) WAR MACHINE, his dominant performance under 56.5kg – 3.5kg more than his Stradbroke weight – making him a worthy favourite.
The historic negatives confronting WAR MACHINE are the poor record of Stradbroke favourites – only three have won in the last 20 years – and a jinx on BRC Sprint winners with only one horse (River Lad in 2014) going on to win the Stradbroke since the Doomben race was introduced in 1985.
On the positive side, WAR MACHINE is a lightly raced 4YO (right age group) who lands here on a big upward spiral. His biggest weapon is a deadly turn of foot that he can exploit as he is well drawn to sit off a hectic early tempo with up to six horses mapping to drive for the early lead.
It all suggests that if he continues with the progression he has displayed in his three starts since resuming in April he could blow this less than vintage field away.
I am putting a lot of faith in the BRC Sprint form this year with the runner-up (12) FAR TOO EASY primed for a career peak performance. He meets WAR MACHINE on 3kg better terms and fits the profile of seven of the last nine Stradbroke winners finishing top three in their final lead-up race.
FAR TOO EASY has been an enigma, failing to deliver expected results in the past, but he's a course and distance winner suited by the 21-day break between races and his best figures are more than good enough to win this Stradbroke.
The Kingsford Smith form is solid but it's not mint G1 standard, this year's race rating well below the historic average. It's also a unique year as the seven day rain delay that saw the race run last Saturday means the Stradbroke runners are not getting their normal 14-day break between starts.
(6) GOLDEN MILE will complete a remarkable resurrection after his time at stud if he can back up for a Stradbroke win seven days after his fighting second in the Kingsford Smith. He clearly holds the best rating out of that race with his big weight drop from 59kg to 53.5kg – but he also has convictions and must be relied on to reproduce the same form on the quick back up.
Only three horses are weighted with more than 54kg with a spread of only 4.5kg covering the remaining 20 acceptors. It leaves me to play with a batch from the bottom half of the field in the exotics including a couple of emergencies if they secure starts - (13) RISE AT DAWN; (14) THE INSTRUCTOR; (16) THE INFLICTOR; (20e) TRANSATLANTIC and (23e) WARNIE are all worthy inclusions.
STRADBROKE SELECTIONS: (7) WAR MACHINE; (12) FAR TOO EASY; (6) GOLDEN MILE; (16) THE INFLICTOR; (13) RISE AT DAWN; (23e) WARNIE; (20e) TRANSATLANTIC; (14) THE INSTRUCTOR.
EAGLE FARM June 14
Best Bets
RACE 5: (17) NEED SOME LUCK
RACE 9: (1) FAWKNER PARK
For Value
RACE 2: (3) WATERFORD
RACE 4: (3) BRAVE DESIGN
RACE 7: (5) CITY OF LIGHTS
Selections
RACE 1: (2) JUST PARTY; (1) Pisces; (9) Just Feeling Lucky; (8) Flying Embers
RACE 2: (3) WATERFORD; (4) Pier; (11) Demon Darb; (6) Tenzing
RACE 3: (3) ETNA ROSSO; (4) Campaldino; (2) Nikau Spur; (6) True Marvel
RACE 4: (3) BRAVE DESIGN; (4) Damien; (1) Quietly Arrogant; (11) Amosu
RACE 5: (7) NEED SOME LUCK; (3) I Am Unstoppable; (6) Manhood; (10) Millane
RACE 6: (2) GRAFTERBURNERS; (1) Cool Archie; (16) Providence; (10) Navy Pilot
RACE 7: (5) CITY OF LIGHTS; (12) Tashi; (4) Firestorm; (11) Floozie
RACE 8: (7) WAR MACHINE; (12) Far Too Easy; (6) Golden Mile; (16) The Inflictor; (13) Rise At Dawn; (23e) Warnie; (20e) Transatlantic
RACE 9: (1) FAWKNER PARK; (4) Kovalica; (3) Militarize; (5) New Endeavour
