Host Matt Stewart is joined by racing experts Adam McGrath & Chris Roots each week to review the weekend’s races across the Autumn Carnival. From standout performances to the horses to follow, they’ll break down every feature and give you their take on the stories that matter.
Matty Stewart, Adam McGrath and Chris Roots wrap up a massive Stradbroke Day on The Wrap Up, with Eagle Farm delivering two hugely competitive Group 1s in the JJ Atkins and Stradbroke Handicap.
The boys start with the JJ Atkins, where the two-year-olds stepped up to the mile in what always shapes as a tricky race to assess, and this year was no different. The race had plenty of depth on paper, with runners coming through the Sires’ Produce and other key lead-ups, and a market that centred heavily around Tron Bolt after his strong Sydney form. But as they discuss, it played out like a typical Atkins: even tempo, plenty of chances turning for home, and a result that tested a few of the popular opinions around the top end of the market. They break down how the race was run, which horses handled the step up to 1600m, and who might be worth following out of a race that traditionally produces spring prospects.
They then turn their attention to the Stradbroke Handicap, and it was everything you expect from Queensland’s biggest sprint, big field, pressure from the outset, and a genuinely open betting race. Headley Grange brought the right form through the Kingsford Smith Cup and proved hard to hold out, while Fangirl was prominent in the market and had her chance in the run. The boys break down how the tempo and track pattern shaped the result, the impact of barriers and weights, and which runs had merit in behind in a race that historically throws up value and surprises.
They also touch on the races around the country, identifying runners that caught the eye and a few that might be worth following deeper into the carnival or into the spring.