BROWNIE'S STRADBROKE WEEK BLOG: NO CROWDS BUT THERE IS A STORY IN ANY DIRECTION YOU CARE TO LOOK

By Damian Browne | Thursday, June 4, 2020

It really is good news that the doors are starting to open around the country to allow owners, members and ultimately punters to get back to the track. Unfortunately, none of that will be in play on Saturday when the Stradbroke, Queensland’s signature race, is run but I guess Racing Queensland’s hands are tied by the State Government’s rulings.

It looks like Racing New South Wales and the New South Wales government has been quite proactive in trying to get things moving again whereas the Queensland government appear to be more on the cautious side, with the border still being closed and that sort of thing, and I suppose Racing Queensland probably has to take their lead from them.

There is another difference, of course, in that scenario and that is Racing New South Wale’s CEO Peter V’landys.

V’landys pretty much showed from day one that he got involved in thoroughbred racing that he is willing to take a risk for the betterment of racing. I suppose, for want of a better description, he is prepared to put his neck on the line, have a go at things and follow through his plan whatever it takes.

If his plan blows up … in this case if they let people into the track and somebody comes back a positive to the coronavirus … he is going to get criticism. We know he can handle criticism when it comes his way … another strength of his … but, thankfully, for both V’landys and the industry, most of the times, with all of the things he has done, there has been no need for criticism.

We could say that we have lacking somebody like that in the hierarchy of Racing Queensland but, then again, you have to acknowledge the fact that V’landys is an exceptional sports administrator … the type of which does not come along every day.

There is no indecision in his makeup. No buck-passing. No, it’s somebody else’s problem. No, it’s somebody else’s decision. The buck stops with Peter V’landys … and, clearly, he also surrounds himself with people who can get the job done.

So, yes, we can look down south and perhaps wonder if, track access-wise, things could have been better for Stradbroke day but we should also stay aware of the fact that three months ago there was going to be no Stradbroke at all … so in real terms, it is great that we have got a 2020 edition of the Stradbroke to look forward to, never mind the circumstances.

People have simply got to be mindful that at one stage we looked like we were having nothing at all so we have to be grateful for what we have got.
______________________________________________________________________

This year’s Stradbroke is a very competitive race. There is no standout for me. You could probably pick eight horses and not pick the winner. It is one of those sorts of races.

There is a real range of experience in terms of the riders in the race. The old boys … Michael (Cahill), Jimmy (Byrne), Robbie (Fradd) and Larry (Cassidy) … to name a few … are lining up. As I said before you can’t beat experience and you can’t buy it. For me, there is no doubt about that!

The logical follow on from that though is you can’t get experience without opportunities and this aspect comes very much into play in the Stradbroke because there are a number of young riders in there for which this could be a career defining opportunity. Saturday could be the making of one of these young riders. It could open up some doors for them.

In the first instance it is all about seizing this particular opportunity but then, of course, you have to be able to go on with it. Tommy Berry is a great example of doing just that. The door opened for Tommy when I couldn’t be bothered flying down south to take the ride on Epaulette in the Golden Rose. That was Tommy’s first Group 1 win and Tommy has never looked back.

(The story, as reported in the Daily Telegraph at the time stated, ‘Snowden said leading Brisbane rider Damien Browne was his first choice. “We approached Damien and he had a think about it before deciding he wanted to stay in Brisbane," Snowden said. "I'd already knocked back other jockeys and it left me hanging a bit but Tommy was a good substitute." Browne only had one ride at Doomben and won on Lucky Luna’).

Talk about win some, lose some … but I’ll take the credit for sending Tommy on his way! But the point I am making is it is all about opportunities and there is plenty of that on the line on Saturday.

Like I said, a real mix of riding talent in the Stradbroke. You’ve also got Tegan (Harrison) and Stephanie (Thornton) having a go and then there is Blake Spriggs and James Innes Jnr, who have had to go through quarantine to secure their race rides … to name a few more.

There is a story in almost direction you care to look which makes for a fascinating lead-up to the race.
______________________________________________________________________

Having no crowds at the track will obviously bring a very different dimension to Stradbroke Day proceedings … but, in a strange twist, the absence of spectators might in fact help out certain jockeys and horses.

The crowd … when they are all packed together … their sense of expectation, the noise, the excitement the owners feel when you talk to them as a jockey before going out would usually all be playing a part in the build-up just prior to going out onto the track. … and all of that can have an effect on an inexperienced big race rider.

Some of those riders on Saturday might benefit from not having any distractions.

I know, myself, the only time I would be a touch nervous was in those three or four minutes when I would talk to owners before the race because I could feel their excitement and the electricity of the moment.

As soon as you get away from that, and get on the horse, that’s when you take a big breath and settle down to do what you do best. If you can get into that zone earlier, with none of those other distractions, so much the better … so, I think the current shutout of spectators could possibly actually help some riders.

As it will with certain horses.

The two-year-olds, in particular, (the JJ Atkins) can easily react to the crowds.

Some of them can quite easily get on their toes and get fractious. You don’t want them running their race before they even get to the barrier so the crowds not being there could actually translate into a bonus on this occasion for any of the more highly strung youngsters.
_____________________________________________________________________

The ideal qualities you are looking for in a Stradbroke contender?

Quite often they go pretty quick for the first furlong or so and then the race develops from there. So, you have to have a horse that is tough because sometimes you will be asking the horse to sprint twice … firstly, to find a position and then to finish off.

If you get stuck three or four wide, you have pretty much got no chance really. So, that implies you have also got to have an ounce of luck.

The bottom line for the ideal Stradbroke contender is you have got to be able to quicken. You have got to have a good turn of foot. Very rarely, unless it is a very heavy track, do you see the old grinders come into play.

That would be the premise behind my selection for the Stradbroke.

I haven’t gone through the field in detail yet but, as I said, earlier it looks likely to be a very competitive race.
_____________________________________________________________________

As far as the JJ Atkins is concerned, I haven’t changed the view I put forward in this column before the Champagne Stakes.

I would still be worried, if I were in either camp, about Rothfire and Wisdom Of Water. They are both quite free-running horses and my concern is that they might bring each other undone.

Having said that, I don’t know the horses that well to say whether they are able to come back and take a sit or not, but to the eye from, what I have seen, they both seem to be free-running horses.

Interestingly, both Robert Heathcote (Rothfire) and Toby and Trent Edmonds (Wisdom Of Water) have very real chances of landing both Group 1 wins on the day with both having runners in the Stradbroke as well. It is hard to believe that the Edmonds camp hasn’t had a Group 1 winner yet with the number of handy horses they have had. It can’t be far away.

Personally, I still liked Isotope’s run the other day … particularly with the 1400m in mind.

Also, Ciaron Maher’s horse, Macroura, has caught my eye. It has done nothing wrong to date. Has drawn lovely. I mean, Ciaron does know how to win a race up here during carnival time.

Macroura has got the right form and will probably race in the right position … three pairs back, or something like that, and he should be primed to finish off.

Ciaron, training with David Eustace, is right up now with the likes of Chris Waller and Peter and Paul Snowden in terms of identifying horses very early in their preparation and being able to say, right we will target this one for Queensland in six months’ time … rather than saying two weeks away from the race, oh, this horse just won well … should we go to Queensland?

These top trainers identify the capabilities of their horses early and set targets and the horses preparation schedule and progress into those targeted races thus benefits accordingly … so you have to take note when they bring one to town.

Their ability to have their horse peaking on the day is just incredible to watch.

(*The Maher/Eustace team, the Peter and Paul Snowden training partnership and Chris Waller all have runners in both the JJ Atkins and the Stradbroke).
________________________________________________________________________

Finally, let’s hope we get good weather and good racing on Saturday.

Enjoy it, wherever you will be watching it from and I hope you can find a winner or two.

More articles