Post-race jockey reports from the 2025 Stradbroke Handicap

This is what the jockeys had to say after the running of the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

War Machine returns to the winner's enclosure after winning the Stradbroke Handicap. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography.

Dominant favourite War Machine gave supporters little need for worry when scoring a commanding win in the $3 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

War Machine is trained by brothers Ben, Will and JD Hayes and provided the famous Australian racing family with their first win in Queensland’s signature race.

The late Colin Hayes and his son David, Ben Will and JD’s father, are both Hall of Fame trainers but neither have won a Stradbroke.

War Machine was never far from the speed before surging to the front with 300m to go and was never getting run down, defeating Yellow Brick with Private Eye back in third.

War Machine WINS the G1 Stradbroke Handicap! 🏆

Tim Clark with a flawless performance in the saddle! pic.twitter.com/oDuyB1gLJN

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025

War Machine was ridden by Tim Clark and the victory was his sixth from 13 starts, taking his earnings to more than $2.4 million.

This is what the riders thought of their mount’s performance in the Stradbroke Handicap.

1st - WAR MACHINE (Tim Clark) He got away okay. He was just laying on the side of the gates a little bit, but he got away okay and it worked out pretty well from that draw. Myself and Ben (Hayes), we spoke before the race. Just wanted to get on a three-wide line with a bit of cover. He found Transatlantic’s back, who I knew was going to take him far enough. He travelled so well, I probably let him loose a bit early. But this was the grand final, there’s no tomorrow, so I wasn’t going to die wondering. He let rip, really let rip. Maybe just wandered a little bit late. He could feel Yellow Brick coming late and sort of surged again. I can’t take too much credit for it. What a great job by Ben and his brothers to just have him spot on for today. I was just the lucky one to get the call up. It’s been a wonderful carnival. I love getting up to Queensland. To win the Straddie and just ice what’s been a great carnival is a great result.

2nd - YELLOW BRICK (Andrew Mallyon) Really proud of his effort. We all feel vindicated that he he was going good on the track and he’d run a big race today

3rd - PRIVATE EYE (Nash Rawiller) Got a good start and I was able to take advantage of that. I’ve ridden a couple of good horses now in this race and it is bloody hard to win. Those good ones, they run their best race and still not quite good enough to get them there. As a horse so late in his career, that was one of his best runs ever.

4th - DESERT LIGHTNING (Tommy Berry) Out there it felt like he should have gone close. Had to wait for Private Eye to sprint as we were on his back. I was strung up for a little bit but I was rapt with him late.

5th - BOSUSTOW (Zac Lloyd) No comment provided.

6th - THE INSTRUCTOR (Jett Stanley) Very gallant run in defeat. We drew wide and had to do a bit of work once we got there. Came back underneath me beautifully and travelled up well into the straight then got stuck behind some tiring horses so we had to weave our way through and never actually got a clear run at them. Kept getting shifted on to so kept him going to the line. Couldn’t be happier.

7th - ROTHFIRE (Craig Williams) From the outside barrier draw he gave me a beautiful ride from there. I got on the back of the eventual winner, travelled so well but the winner was too good for us late. Just got a bit tired today as Rob Heathcote said, he didn’t have the ideal preparation. Gallant.

8th - PAYLINE (Kyle Wilson-Taylor) Plenty of interference early in the race but still happy where I was in the race following Desert Lightning. If he gets the rub of the green he definitely runs top five. He’s done a big job this campaign.

9th - TRANSATLANTIC (Angela Jones) Nice run from a bad gate. Wasn’t beaten all that far. Travelled into the straight ok but just a bit of argy bargy which he really didn’t appreciate. Probably should have finished closer but it was a gallant effort.

10th - GOLDEN MILE (Jason Collett) Copped some squeeze early and I don’t think he appreciated that. Wasn’t strong late.

11th - THE INFLICTOR (Cejay Graham) Good run. Obviously his toughest task to date but travelled into it well and got buffeted around and didn’t handle that.

12th - COLEMAN (Reece Jones) Just a little bit tardy into stride from the bad draw. Forced our hand. Got back with cover and he finished off well. Just too far back today.

13th - RISE AT DAWN (Declan Bates) Went ok. Just caught a bit flat when they quickened so he is probably ready for a mile now.

14th - FAR TOO EASY (Regan Bayliss) That ground is way too firm for him. Now that he’s older, he never travelled for me.

15th - SPICY MARTINI (Robbie Dolan) He just didn’t begin as well as I’d hoped and then hit the rail really badly on the first bend and that put her out of the race.

16th - FRONT PAGE (Damien Thornton) He ran well. Just had to do a bit more than ideal.

17th - PUNCH LANE (Rachel King) Had to do a lot of work from out wide and the track is probably a bit firm for hi. He tried hard.

18th - ROBUSTO (Kerrin McEvoy) He had to do it a bit tough from the gate. We tried to be positive and couldn’t get the spot that we wanted so I had to try a couple of lengths further to get across and it was too much work for him, unfortunately.

Originally published as Post-race jockey reports from the 2025 Stradbroke Handicap