River Lad To Stradbroke Handicap Following BRC Sprint Win

May 17, 2014

River Lad To Stradbroke Handicap Following BRC Sprint Win

Natalie McCall-trained River Lad returned to winning form with a brave front-running victory in the 2014 BRC Sprint at Doomben this afternoon and will make his debut at Group 1 level in the 2014 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on June 7.

River Lad fought off Benny's Buttons to win the BRC Sprint at Doomben this afternoon.

River Lad fought off Benny's Buttons to win the BRC Sprint at Doomben this afternoon. Photo: Daniel Costello

Jockey Tim Bell took River Lad to the front of the BRC Sprint field in the early stages of the race and, along with Benny Button’s, kicked well clear of the rest of the field coming around the final turn.

Benny Button’s looked as though he had his nose in front at the 150 metre mark, but River Lad was too strong in the final stages of the race and pushed clear to score his second win at Group level after winning the 2012 edition of the W.J. Healy Stakes (1200m).

Bell had a frustrating day before his victory on River Lad, finishing in the placings with Pickabee in the Juanmo Stakes and Tinto in The Roses, and was clearly thrilled to finish his day with a feature race victory.

“I’ve been around the money all day and I was ecstatic with all the runs of my horses, but it is good to finally get one,” Bell said.

“This is my first season as a senior rider and things are actually looking quiet big and bold and I am thankful for the majority of these Brisbane trainers that I generally ride for to stick loyal to me.

“It is a great credit to them and I am just happy to get the done properly.”

Bell was reuniting with River Lad for the first time since 2012, after winning the W.J. Healy Stakes on the gelding, and was quick to pay credit to trainer Natalie McCall and the toughness that the six-year-old showed in the final stages of the race.

“I had a little bit of success on this horse in his earlier days and there team worked very hard there on the Sunshine Coast,” Bell said.

“They don’t have the biggest amount of numbers, but she is a trainer that is really on her way through her grades.

“I didn’t actually want to lead, but you have to keep the horse in a happy medium and he did a little bit of work to cross them.

“Once he got there, he settled very nicely and he has fought off Benny’s Buttons very nicely today.”

McCall was thrilled with the performance of River Lad and confirmed that the son of Top Echelon will have his next race start in the Stradbroke Handicap.

You can find the best odds for River Lad or any other runner in the 2014 Stradbroke Handicap field at Ladbrokes.com.au thanks to their 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival special.

2014 BRC Sprint Results

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Starting Price
1 2 RIVER LAD Natalie Mccall Timothy Bell 10 57.5kg $9.50
2 3 BENNY’S BUTTONS Kelso Wood James McDonald 0.2L 12 55.5kg $5.50
3 5 FIRE UP FIFI Robert Heathcote Luke Nolen 3.2L 2 55kg $9.50
4 4 DANCES ON STARS (NZ) Gerald Ryan Michael Cahill 3.4L 8 55.5kg $7
5 7 STEEL ZIP Pat Duff Brad Stewart 4.2L 9 54kg $21
6 12 TYPHOON RED Kevin Kemp Nozi Tomizawa 4.4L 3 54kg $21
7 9 STARTSMEUP Bruce W Hill Jim Byrne 5.7L 7 54kg $15
8 14 THAT’S THE ONE Barry Baldwin Ms Tegan Harrison (a) 5.9L 11 54kg $41
9 16 FERMENT John P Thompson Ryan Wiggins 6.4L 1 54kg $101
10 6 FILLYDELPHIA Robert Heathcote Glen Colless 6.6L 6 54.5kg $12
11 11 LUCKY HUSSLER Kent Fleming Jason Taylor 6.8L 4 54kg $4.80F
12 10 TRANSPORTER John P Thompson Jim Cassidy 7L 5 54kg $31
13 1 SOLZHENITSYN (NZ) Robert Heathcote Nash Rawiller 12.5L 13 61kg $9

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapat...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: L...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse extended her record to eight victories in the 2024...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winne...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Veight joined an elite list of three-year-olds to beat home the older horses...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results:...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Chris Waller’s VRC Derby winner from the spring, Riff Rocket, now has the...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Vi...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Via Sistina Too Good Debuting for Waller

Yu Long Investments lucrative European purchase, the now Chris Waller-trained...

Race Results

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapateo Upsets Sunshine In Paris

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Imperatriz Defends Title in 2024 William Reid Stakes

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Race Previews

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off

Fields & Form

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off