Robbie Fradd won the 2020 Stradbroke aboard Tyzone, sweeping out wide on the track, coming from well back to prevail in a grandstand finish in which only a length covered the first five runners across the line … the irony being that win was achieved in front of an empty grandstand as the race was run at the height of Covid restrictions which kept spectators locked out of proceedings.
Now retired, Fradd obviously doesn’t have a ride in this year’s Stradbroke … but he does have a rider in the race.
That unusual twist has come about because Fradd is currently very much involved in mentoring Angela Jones, Queensland’s leading apprentice, who will be having her first Group 1 ride in the 2023 edition of The Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Jones will ride Tick Tock Queen and there will be no pressure from the betting market where the Tony Gollan trained runner has been marked up as a $126 chance, but the ‘if you have got a ticket, you have got a chance’ story still applies.
While Tick Tock Queen’s form does pale in comparison to that of some of the high profile, greater achievers lining up against her, Tick Tock Queen has quietly come up with three factors that should advance her chances.
Firstly, she won the Gateway back in December which gave her automatic entry into the Stradbroke … which meant her planned preparation for the big race could flow without any stress about worrying about qualifying.
Secondly, the number four barrier draw could be worth its weight in gold early in the running if Tick Tock Queen has the gate-speed to utilize that advantage … and, last but not least, she has got into the race with the lightweight of 51kg.
Not that these factors can necessarily equalize any gap in class that might exist between Tick Tock Queen and the race’s main fancies, but they are points of note to be considered.
“She’s got a good gate and, hopefully Ange can do what she wants with her from that gate,” offered Fradd. With the light weight she is probably going to have to push a bit forward, but there’s no stress. There’s no pressure on her.
“The slight worry is the horse is temperamental. At the gate sometimes she doesn’t want to go in and with the big day, the big crowd, a big race … they are not going to give you too many chances, so let’s hope the mare behaves herself on the day and goes into the gates and then we can take it from there.
“Ange has only got the one ride on the day so I will have enough time to have a good chat to her beforehand.
“Ange is very level-headed and very calm, so that is a big bonus for her, and I think Ange will get on well with Tick Tock Queen.
“It is not often that you are that age … that young … that you get a Group 1 ride, especially in the Stradbroke. She’ll be excited and inside there will be some butterflies … but she’ll handle it.
“Touch wood, we hope everything goes well … and who knows,” was Fradd’s parting shot.
If nothing else, Jones’ ride in the Stradbroke is a fitting reward for the results she has produced in what has been a stellar, breakout season for the young rider.
Jones is currently a runaway leader in the Brisbane Apprentice Jockey’s Premiership with 70 winners, no less than 44.5 winners ahead of her closest rival. Those 70 winners also put her in third place on the Brisbane Jockey’s Premiership, behind Jimmy Orman and Ben Thompson.
