John Thompson’s whopping galloper Transporter was the biggest horse in today’s Strawberry Road Handicap 2014 and also proved the best bolting it in to win the second on Stradbroke Handicap Daywith ease.

Transporter was too strong for them in the 2014 Strawberry Road Handicap on Stradbroke Day. Photo: Daniel Costello.

The Commands gelding faced just eight rivals in this year’s $100,000 Listed James Boag’s Premium Strawberry Road Handicap (1600m) in a race where over half the field were under double figures to win.

Pace was set in the mile handicap by Elusive Storm who took the lead from the eventual Strawberry Road Handicap winner Transporter and Allknight Saint in third.

The John Sargent-trained Choice Bro, ridden by Tommy Berry who won the opener in the Hampden Stakes with Sports Edition at the jockey’s first ever ride at Eagle Farm, was then in a perfect position fourth off the frontrunner.

Choisir four-year-old Choice Bro, coming off a third at the track over 1500m last Saturday in the Spear Chief Handicap, was put into the race with 600m to go.

On the turn into the straight Elusive Lead still held the lead but was quickly swamped.

Choice Bro moved up and was given every chance racing right up front until the final stages.

Once Jim Byrne moved the six-year-old topweight Transporter up with 300m to go however, Choice Bro was facing a stride-for-stride challenger down the straight.

While Berry gave his mount every chance, they couldn’t match the power of the runaway winner in the end.

Transporter pulled clear to win by two and a half lengths for their first victory since the Member’s Handicap over this track and distance in April last year, with the Bruce Hill-trained Spear Chief runner-up from seven days ago Elmantosh finishing off the trifecta in third after coming up the outside over the closing stages.

There’s a chance connections could continue on with Transporter now they’ve broken their lengthy drought in a race on Tattersall’s Tiara Day back at the track on June 21.

Or they could head to the Sunshine Coast the week after for a shot at either the Glasshouse Handicap over 1400m or the Caloundra City Cup over the mile and a half.

Stay tuned to Races.com.au for all the latest on the Stradbroke Handicap Day winners and their next-up targets.

In the meantime back your next selections at Eagle Farm online at Ladbrokes.com.au who are offering Best Tote or SP + 20% on the Stradbroke Handicap today!

2014 Strawberry Road Handicap Results & Finishing Order

Eagle Farm Race 2 – 07/06/2014