River Lad has continued his career best campaign with a slender success in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.
The Natalie McCall-trained gelding was still considered an outsider in the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) despite a career best win three weeks earlier when claiming the BRC Sprint.
Most who supported River Lad on that occasion had jumped off as had jockey Tim Bell, electing to ride Sacred Star following their success in the QTC Cup.
Damien Oliver was the beneficiary, picking up the ride in a race which had so far eluded the Hall Of Fame jockey who had placed during previous Stradbroke Handicap’s aboard Khaptingly (1995) and Falvelon (2002).
Well away, River Lad took up his customary forward position outside early leader Temple Of Boom.
It was the start of an excellent battle as the pair turned for home and went stride for stride.
River Lad gradually wore down Temple Of Boom and a slender win ensued.
Srikandi held her own for a valuable Group 1 placing while Spirit Of Boom and Sacred Star closed well for fourth and fifth respectively.
It was a race of firsts for River Lad and connections.
The 2014 Stradbroke Handicap was River Lad’s first Group 1 success having been a three time stakes winner previously.
River Lad’s Stradbroke success was Natalie McCall’s maiden Group 1 victory and Damien Oliver’s first in the flagship Queensland event.
A rising seven-year-old, River Lad’s success yielded him a new master Timeform figure of 117, one pound clear of what at the time was a surprise rating of 116 yielded when second in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) behind Appearance.
Such a winning figure comes in well below the prior five-year winning average of the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
Winning performances of 120+ have been the norm during that period with River Lad’s victory the lowest rated since Mr Baritone caused a boilover in the 2008 renewal.
Three Group 1’s were conducted at Eagle Farm last Saturday with Sonntag producing a fairytale performance for young trainer Henry Dwyer.
Currently embarking on his first full season as a trainer, the young horseman now boasts a Group 1 with Sonntag well and truly his breakout horse.
Acquired as a tried ex Peter Snowden-trained galloper, Sonntag overcoming an infected tendon has been well documented.
His subsequent rise through the grades has been meteoric going from a maiden win at Sale to Group 1 glory over the course of four starts.
Ridden by Chad Schofield for the first time, the Teofilo gelding enjoyed a perfect run in transit settled fourth behind Rudy and Pinstripe Lane.
Sonntag always appeared poised to strike and the gelding made his move approaching the 300m.
While runner up Pinstripe Lane was brave, he couldn’t deny Sonntag providing a feel good Group 1 success for connections.
Race favourite Vilanova was closing well late for third.
Last Saturday’s Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) yielded Sonntag a new master Timeform rating of 109.
The 2014 Queensland Derby came in below the five-year winning average which is a fairly underwhelming figure by Group 1 standards.
Instead of an ambitious spring campaign aimed at a Caulfield Cup or Melbourne Cup, Dwyer will give Sonntag a generous spell prior to either a preparation in WA or bringing the gelding back for a tilt at autumn riches.
It appears a wise move by the trainer when considering the minimal success Queensland Derby winners have subsequently tasted.
Hawkspur is the best performed of the Queensland Derby winners during the previous five years having won the 2013 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m).
2012 winner Brambles has just returned off a lengthy injury enforced layoff while 2011 winner Shootoff following a tendon injury sustained during his four-year-old season was never the same horse.
Back to the 2010 Queensland Derby, Dariana had just four more career outings before retirement while Court Ruler didn’t win after his 2009 Derby.
Before Hawkspur, the last Queensland Derby winner to claim another career win was Ice Chariot.
Almalad rounded out a winning treble for Gai Waterhouse and Tommy Berry at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
The Al Maher gelding was sent north after a convincing first up win at Randwick over 1200m.
Despite a sizeable class and distance rise, Almalad took it all in his stride sitting outside the leader Time For War.
While race favourite Brazen Beau loomed large, Almalad fended off his challenge strongly for a determined Group 1 victory.
The 2013/14 crop of two-year-olds profiles as an underwhelming group and Almalad’s latest performance assessed at 112 sits below the prior five-year-winning average of the J.J Atkins.
