Natalie McCall became the first woman to train a Stradbroke Handicap winner when River Lad ended an eight-year drought for Queenslanders in the Group 1 feature at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The win from River Lad also gave Melbourne jockey Damien Oliver his 102nd Group 1 win and his first Stradbroke victory when the gelding edged out fellow Queenslander Temple Of Boom by a head in Queensland’s richest sprint.
Srikandi filled the minor placing a further one length away.
The last Queensland trained horse to win the Stradbroke, which was first run in 1890, was La Montagna in 2006.
“It’s unbelievable. He’s just so though,” McCall said.
McCall was downcast after Wednesday’s barrier draw when River Lad drew 19 which prompted regular rider Tim Bell to jump ship to partner Sacred Star.
“I couldn’t have been happier with him after he won the BRC Sprint but the alley was like a dagger to my heart,” McCall said.
McCall has only been training for eight years after working as a strapper for her father-trainer Ray McCall and the John Hawkes stable when it was based in Brisbane.
“I strapped for John Hawkes when Crawl won the Stradbroke (in 2001),” McCall said.
“This is so special and means so much to me.”
McCall’s confidence in the run grew when River Lad engaged in a dog-fight with Temple Of Boom down the straight.
“I’m always confident when he gets in a dog fight like that. I knew if it got to a fight I’d back him,” she said.
Oliver has tried many times and failed to win the Stradbroke when he was associated with the Freedman brothers and was relieved to finally have broken through.
“He’s a tough Queenslander and it’s a great thrill to finally win my first Stradbroke,” Oliver said.
“I never knew much about him but he ran second behind Appearance in the Expressway so I gave him a chance (Saturday).”
“I felt a bit sorry for Tegan (Harrison) on Temple Of Boom. It would have been wonderful for her to win her first Group 1 in her home town.”
Harrison narrowly missed landing her first win at the highest level when Temple Of Boom was beaten narrowly in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 last month.
Temple Of Boom’s trainer Tony Gollan was delighted with his sprinter’s performance and will now spell him ahead of a spring campaign.
Stablemate and fellow Group 1 winner Spirit Of Boom battled on bravely for fourth and will now head to the breeding barn at his birthplace at Eureka on the Darling Downs.
– Racing Queensland
