The Stradbroke Handicap is the undoubted highlight of the Brisbane Winter Carnival. Contested over seven furlongs or 1400 metres, the hefty prize purse of one-and-a-half million dollars attracts some of the best sprinter-milers from around Australia.
First contested back in 1890, the Stradbroke Handicap has a long and rich history. It was named after Lord Stradbroke, a relative of Henry John Rous, who ironically was the originator of the weight-for-age scale in horse racing.
Despite the fact that the Stradbroke has always been a handicap, some quality horses have beat the handicapper and won the race. These include Rough Habit, who went back-to-back in 1991 and 1992, and Dane Ripper, who triumphed in the race before going on to take out the Cox Plate.
The Stradbroke Handicap, like most high-quality handicaps in Australia, is a tough race for punters. The Stradbroke has proved itself to be especially tricky though, particularly in recent years.
Incredibly, the last seven winners have all started in double-figure odds. Furthermore, the shortest-priced winner since 2010 was Sincero in 2011, who won as the $7.50 favourite.
The 1400-metre start at Eagle Farm sees horses begin on the back straight, where they have a 400-metre straight gallop before hitting the long bend into the home straight. While 400 metres may sound like a lot, the big field that contests the race means that plenty of horses still get caught three-deep around this bend. That's why horses drawn in the middle and inside have an advantage.
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