Hucklebuck fever swept through Melbourne during the autumn, and the promising South Australian gelding looks ready to live up to the hype in this afternoon’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.
Lobbed in at just 51kg and second-up where he always takes a big stride in improvement, the Phillip Stokes galloper is poised to claim a maiden Group 1 win in Queensland’s most prestigious sprint.
The Stradbroke Handicap, first run in 1890, has been won by some of Australia’s greatest sprinters including Winfreux (1965), Cabochon (1968), Divide And Rule (1970), Triton (1972), Campaign King (1988), Rough Habit (1991/2) and Dane Ripper (1997).
It’s a race which favours horses carrying low weights, and a race three-year-olds have succeeded in right throughout its 124-year history.
Hucklebuck’s profile fits the bill nicely.
There was merit in his first-up fourth in the Fred Best Classic (1350m) three weeks back, despite punters walking away from the race disappointed.
For starters he led throughout, which has never been his style, and was left a sitting duck out in front in the final furlong.
His fitness gave out a fraction but he still managed to finish 1.4L off the winner Havana, running to a Timeform figure of 108.
That’s eight pounds below his best, but importantly it’s his strongest return in three first-up efforts, besting the 107 he ran to when winning well at Morphettville off a break back in February.
Hucklebuck is unbeaten in two runs second-up and there’s a reason why – he always seems to take plenty of improvement off his resuming effort.
After winning well at Gawler on debut back in August he improved a staggering 22 pounds at his second career run.
The improvement wasn’t as sharp second-up last campaign but it was as significant, given he ran to a career peak when proving too good for the likes of Prince Harada, The Quarterback and Criterion in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m).
Needless to say Criterion went on to win the Rosehill Guineas, and the Australian Derby.
The run got him to 116, a nine-pound lift on what he returned first-up last campaign.
Most importantly, it’s that number which makes him the one to beat here once weight adjustments are factored in.
Hucklebuck didn’t fire at his last run during the autumn, beaten 2.6L by Cox Plate winner Shamus Award in the Australian Guineas (1600m) when found to have mucus in his system.
The mile might well have been a bridge too far for him too on that occasion.
If his career to date is any guide, Hucklebuck could potentially run to a new peak today which would be good enough to get him home in a below-par Stradbroke.
Stokes would’ve been delighted on Wednesday when he landed the number one barrier, which gives Dom Tourneur every chance to produce a gem of a ride.
Don’t be surprised if Hucklebuck becomes the seventh three-year-old since 1993 to win this famous race.
Up in the weights but still right in the hunt is Tony Gollan’s ultra-consistent Spirit Of Boom, looking to retire a three-time Group 1 winner.
He’s in career-best form for this fresh off a Doomben 10,000 win which yielded a Timeform figure of 120 – the first time he’d ever achieved that elusive mark.
Spirit Of Boom might well be a few pounds shy of a couple of these, but his consistency must be factored in here, especially after drawing perfectly in barrier six.
History is well against him from a weight-carrying perspective – he’s lugging 58kg for this and no horse has achieved that feat since the legendary Rough Habit heaved 58.5kg across the line in first place 22 years ago.
But it isn’t a vintage Stradbroke, and it’d take a brave man to go against Spirit Of Boom today.
Next in line is Rebel Dane who warrants consideration despite drawing the second widest gate.
Trainer Gary Portelli was very disappointed with the barrier but this horse cannot be ruled out.
He’s been a fraction disappointing this campaign beaten 3.3L when well backed in the All Aged Stakes (1400m), running to 113 before whacking away to the line in the Doomben 10,000 to get within a length of Spirit Of Boom.
The run produced an improved rating of 118 – still five pounds off his best but enough to bring him into contention today.
As bad as the barrier is, it’s offset somewhat by the booking of Tommy Berry who is taking the world by storm in Hong Kong.
And the Stradbroke has proven barriers aren’t entirely crucial. Linton won the race last year from gate 16, managing to rattle home up the fence under crafty jockey Nicholas Hall.
Whether he’s good enough to carry 56.5kg to victory remains to be seen, but I’d expect him to be thereabouts with a bit of luck in transit.
Before signing off, we need to have a look at the Ciaron Maher-trained Srikandi who has won her last five straight, most recently claiming the Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m) at Doomben two weeks ago.
She’s in at 51kg just like Hucklebuck, and her progression has been very good all campaign.
That latest run produced a Timeform figure of 109 and she’s improved at all seven starts over her career since debuting in a Cranbourne maiden back in September.
She can do so again here, although this is a massive test jumping from fillies and mares grade where she’s been getting her way out in front.
Fillies are capable of winning this race, but I can’t help but feel this might just be a bit much for her.
She’s another one cursed by a bad barrier, although with Glen Boss in the saddle anything is possible.
Enjoy another enthralling Stradbroke.
