Navigation is more vital in handicaps than other events, the best of it promises to take the $1.8 million sprint, even more so than the Brisbane Cup, once the second leg of major double in the north.
Yes topliners can have so much on the opposition that tactical errors or bad judgement does not matter.
Rough Habit, too, is my best Stradbroke winner, given the finest ride in the event by Jim Cassidy. Jumping from a wide gate Cassidy, as he so often did, scored due to daring, and instinct, generating a pump action that produced a special brand of brilliance.
Obviously Saturday’s counterparts don’t rate with Rough Habit in what, due to the handicap, looks an evenly graded field.
These days the Brisbane Cup, once run on the holiday Monday, is very much a prelim. Back in 1961 it had Tulloch, some say the greatest, in the then two-mile staying test.
Tulloch was having a return bout against Sharply who had previously beaten him in the Sydney Cup. “Give us the story on Sharply beating Tulloch in the Sydney Cup,” Ross Whatson asked on Facebook recently.
In brief ….
Under Bernie Howlett Sharply had 48.5kg against Tulloch’s 63kg that allowed the hoop to give the lightweight a trouble-free passage.
Sharply produced my biggest result, the second leg of the Randwick double with the Doncaster (Fine And Dandy) that sent me to Great Britain where I had an extensive education and limited diet. Consider pork pies, with pastry like cement wrapped around pig gristle, and Watneys, a brew that would not be supped by a thirsty camel.
Champions in the Tulloch era would be tested in handicaps, and could go down. Given a clear passage Tulloch would have won the Sydney Cup. I took the odds he would not.
Much later, at a Journalist’s Club lunch in Sydney, Moore divulged the mistakes he made on Tulloch in the race. Not bad luck, a bad ride.
However no risks were taken in the Brisbane Cup. Recently I was told by the jockey who opposed them at Eagle Farm that he was employed to make the pace for Tulloch, a negative for Sharply.
Tulloch was much better than Sharply anyway, particularly with the weight adjustments. The champ dropped to 61kg and Sharply rose to 52.5kg.
Tulloch was trained by Tommy Smith, who continued to leave his mark on the Brisbane Cup, carried on by his daughter Gai Waterhouse now operating in partnership with Adrian Bott. They have two strong chances, Alacance and Bella Montagna, in the staying test this year.
But the Stradbroke is the feature, supported by the J.J. Atkins for two-year-olds, the Gunsynd Classic, and World Pool that overshadowed the Brisbane Cup.
Yes, I miss the former holiday weekend – Saturday and Monday – but this year, Stradbroke day 2026, promises to be exceptional.
Maybe it’s a vintage thing but I like handicaps. The Stradbroke is second to only the Doncaster at Randwick. Others, the Epsom (Randwick) and Newmarket, down Flemington’s straight six, are outstanding but the Stradbroke has Brisbane.
Old mates have gone but it still has the Breakfast Creek, and beer off the wood, second only to the Reschs at the Clovelly Bowling Club.
Obviously the Stradbroke top weights face a task. Still, Private Eye (56.5) has been placed twice in the event with 57kg last year and 58.5kg in 2022.
Private Eye drew four gate and has the assistance of Nash Rawiller, very effective, more flail than pump, and should get a sweet passage. The gelding is eight, a vintage that doesn’t sit well with me. But trainer Joe Pride has a knack with old-timers and has two other strong chances, Headley Grange and Estadio Mestalla.
Headley Grange has the best recent credentials taking the Group one Kingsford Smith at Eagle Farm recently getting considerable assistance from Adam Hyeronimus. From the eight gate Hypo is going to be hard to hold out again.
On the Racing and Sports jockey ratings for the Stradbroke Hypo (4.3 out of 5) is assessed ahead of world champion James McDonald (4.2 on Fangirl) and Ryan Maloney (4.2 on Another Wil).
Prior to the success, Headley Grange had been marred due to “racing wide”, a situation that arose last start from Saturday rivals Fangirl, Desert Lightning, Sepals, Yellow Brick, King Of Roseau, Regal Award, who did win, and Sixties.
Alas Kingsford Smith winners don’t have a flash record in the Stradbroke. From 41 two have scored.
However Estadio Mestalla has different credentials. Fourth at Scone last time out does not read flash but he blew the start. The finish was encouraging.
When Tulloch was booming, Estadio Mestalla would have been classed as “a good Welter horse”, carrying big weight effectively but lacking the class for Group one. Still 53.5kg is an invitation.
Since the gate blunder, Estadio Mestalla has had Chad Schofield, currently riding strong with confidence, in two barrier trials in which he has commenced smoothly. The seven-year-old gets blinkers again. It’s a Stradbroke Plan. So, too, his stablemates.
Like Sharply the gamble is appealing. If he gets wet ground, it’s even better. Estadio Mestalla was $19 on Friday.
