Stradbroke Handicap 2023

In a hurry? We’ve listed all the quick facts that you need to know about the Stradbroke Handicap:

The Stradbroke Handicap is a Group 1 race which takes place each year in June. The race in 2023 will be held on Saturday 11th of June at Eagle Farm Racecourse. Looking back to the race in 2022, it was won by Alligator Blood.

The $1,500,000 Stradbroke Handicap is a Group 1 handicap over 1400m during the Queensland Winter Carnival.

The first ever Stradbroke Handicap was on Saturday May 24th 1890, it was also over 6 furlongs and was won by Pyrrhus. The race was run over the 6 furlongs until 1953 when it went to its current distance of 7 furlongs (1400m).

Some of Australia’s Champions of the Turf have won this major Australian Group 1 race which includes; All Our Mob (1994), Divide and Rule (1970), Dane Ripper (1997), Winfreux (1965) and the mighty Kiwi Rough Habit (1991/92).

In what is usually a maximum field of handicappers, it can be a difficult job for punters to find the winner. Sir Wisp was the longest priced at 100/1 in 1977.

The local trainer Walter (Watty) Blacklock is the record holder with 6 winners in the early 1900’s. His best horse was Gold Tie who won the Stradbroke in 1918 and 1919.

The leading jockey is another local in John Stone (Jr) who holds the record with 4 winners. “Darby” McCarthy sits next with 3 winners. Of the current riders Kerrin McEvoy has ridden 2 of the last 7 Stradbroke Handicaps.

The Stradbroke Handicap is a major Australian Group 1 held at Eagle Farm Racecourse, it is known as one of the biggest races in the Queensland racing calendar and forms part of the ever popular Winter Racing Carnival in the Sunshine State.

As there is a mammoth $1.5 million on the line in prizemoney, it means the Stradbroke Handicap attracts some of the biggest and best horses from across the country to Queensland. It also brings in a lot of us Aussies who enjoy a dabble on the races. The experts here at The Shark will put together a list of Stradbroke Handicap tips so you can have more confidence when getting on the punt.

As we are yet to see the nominations for the Stradbroke Handicap in 2023, it is quite difficult to provide any updates on our tips. Although, as the Winter Racing Carnival in Queensland goes up another level, the horses that are aiming for this major Group 1 will become a lot clearer. So, you don’t need to stress as we will provide all the Stradbroke Handicap horse tips you need closer to the time of the race.

Right now there are no Australian bookies that are providing Stradbroke Handicap odds. But we will keep a lookout for these odds and list them in the odds section below when available. Before finalising your Stradbroke Handicap bets, be sure to check out our betting section below as we have gone through some key factors for success in the Stradbroke Handicap.

We will announce The Sharks’ Stradbroke Handicap best tips for the race this year closer to the big day. Make sure you check back on this page for all the updates you need!

Stradbroke Handicap Tips From Experts

Our tips are not out for the Stradbroke Handicap in 2023 as it is too far out from the event. But the good news is that when the final field for the Stradbroke Handicap is announced, we will provide guidance on each and every runner in the 2023 Stradbroke Handicap.

You will find all this information below, when it becomes available. Stay tuned!

There are a lot of important factors to consider before betting on the Stradbroke Handicap. Make sure you have a read on below before you place your bets:

Is Previous Stradbroke Handicap Form a Good Indicator of Future Success?

History suggests that it is difficult to win back to back Stradbroke Handicaps and beat the handicapper more than once. The last to win two Stradbrokes in a row was Black Piranha in 2010 and 2011. Prior to that, Rough Habit (1991 and 1992) was the last multiple winner.

Would not completely discard the form from previous Stradbrokes when trying to find the winner. Horses that have had experience in the hustle and bustle of a Stradbroke can come to the fore the following season.

Should I Bet On The Favourite in the Stradbroke Handicap?

Only one favourite has won the Stradbroke in the last 10 years and that was 2019 when Trekking won at the juicy odds of $7.00. Always in an open handicap with capacity fields look for a longer priced winner.

Formlines from Lead Up Races

The Stradbroke is the third leg of the three sprints during the Group 1 sprints over the Queensland Winter Carnival. The Doomben 10000 over the 1200m is followed by the Kingsford-Smith Cup over the 1300m two weeks later then the Stradbroke.

In recent years The Goodwood run at Morphettville has also been a good guide that must be respected as a form reference. In 2022, winner Alligator Blood contested the Group 3 BRC Sprint before running in the Stradbroke Handicap.

Age

Since 2006 only two three-year-olds have been successful in the Stradbroke, the most recent being Impending in 2017. The more experienced older horses have the better record in this race.

Weight

Arguably the most important factor in assessing a handicap is the allocation of weight by the handicapper. Horses that have been racing in consistent form and may have got under the eye of the handicapper are the horses to be wary of.

Since 2010 the only winner to carry over 55kg was when Santa Ana Lane won in 2018 carrying 55.5kg.

Gender

Tofane became only the fourth mare since 2006 to win the Stradbroke. Geldings had won the previous four Stradbrokes prior to Tofane and a gelding won again in 2022, with Alligator Blood. The geldings have the best record when assessing Stradbroke winners.

Stradbroke Handicap Best Bets

Our Stradbroke Handicap best bets for 2023 are not out just yet, make sure you keep an eye out on this page as we will provide more details about our best bets when the final field is announced.

You will find our best bets below once available. Stay tuned!

Well before we know the Stradbroke Handicap field – multiple Aussie bookies will open up early markets, or all-in markets, for all your Stradbroke Handicap betting needs. We think this is a great time to bet on the horse you’ve picked. This is because you could get awesome odds before they potentially shorten in the days leading up to the big race, especially if the horse has shown great form in recent races and trials.

Once the bookies release their all important Stradbroke Handicap odds for 2023, you will see them fluctuate each day. There are a number of factors that contribute to this, but when we get a better understanding of the type of horses targeting the Stradbroke Handicap, this is where you will see the most movement in the odds.

Putting your bets on in any of these early markets, means you could find the eventual favourite (and hopefully the winner) at double digit odds. This is obviously something that we all are aiming for, as it means you will get more cash money! However, there is more risk associated with this option and you need to be aware of the pitfalls.

Depending on when you make your 2023 Stradbroke Handicap futures bet, your horse may not even end up targeting or getting a run in the race, but you won’t get your money back. This situation is known to occur when the market is ‘All-In’ or closer to the date of the race. If you pop your bet on when it is ‘Before Noms’, then you know you’ll get your cash back if your horse doesn’t run in this race.

The Stradbroke Handicap odds for 2023 are not released yet. Be sure to check back later for all the details.

A great field of 18 runners and five emergencies was announced to take part in the Stradbroke handicap for 2022. There ended up being no scratching in the race, therefore none of the five emergencies gained entry into this Group 1.

It was a fairly open market, with a lot of quality runner, which was highlighted by the fact the pre-race favourite, Eleven Eleven, was listed at $6.00. Eleven Eleven had just come through the Group 1 Kingsford-smith Cup and finished a brave third place, just 0.3L off the winner, Apache Chase.

Ayrton was next in the betting market, at $7.50. We hadn’t seen much of the 4YO gelding prior to the Stradbroke Handicap, and his last win was back in April at the Group 3 Victoria Handicap. His season record was quite decent however, standing at 4:2-0-1 before the race.

Apache Chase wrapped up the runners that were at $10 or under, and the 4YO gelding started at $10 exactly. Apache Chase was a last start winner, winning the Group 1 Kingsford-smith Cup, and his record for the season before the Stradbroke Handicap stood at 8:4-1-2.

Despite carrying a large-ish amount on his back, Alligator Blood was no match for the rest of the field and ended up winning by 1L. The wide barrier was also a concern for the gelding, who had already won at Group 1 level before this win at the Stradbroke Handicap.

After the jump, Alligator Blood settled in about 6L back off the leader, but had space to his left and used it effectively when the time came. By the 300m mark he was running down the outside and quickly closing in on those in the lead. It was all over by the 150m, as he had too much speed for the rest of the field.

Carrying the highest weight of all, Private Eye still managed to finish in second place, and was on the opposite side of the barrier compared to the winner, jumping from barrier 1. Coming around the final bend it was looking like Private Eye could get a little stuck in traffic, but jockey Brenton Avdulla slowed down a touch so he could move the gelding out into a gap.

It was smart thinking by Avdulla as once the field was stretched, there was enough space for Private Eye to show his speed, but ultimately he was just too far behind Alligator Blood to make up the distance.

In third place was Rothfire who was trying to go from barrier to finishing post in the lead. There was still a couple of lengths distance between Rothfire and Alligator Blood at the 300m mark, but with the speed Alligator Blood had, Rothfire just couldn’t keep up. The 4YO gelding was also swallowed up by Private Eye, who was putting on a blistering pace towards the end of the race.

You’ve read the words, now watch the video! Have a squiz below at the 2022 Stradbroke Handicap race:

What an outstanding achievement!

Alligator Blood wins the Stradbroke to secure @GaiWaterhouse1‘s 150th Group 1 win 🏆 pic.twitter.com/iUHNK2Pooi

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) June 11, 2022

Stradbroke Handicap Winners

The results for the upcoming Stradbroke Handicap are not yet available, but in the meantime, you can have a look below at all the recent past winners: