Racing: River Lad beats Temple of Boom

Photo / Thinkstock

Natalie McCall's decision to miss the Sydney autumn with River Lad has reaped a million-dollar payday and given the trainer her first group one win in the Stradbroke Hcp.

In a race of firsts on Saturday at Eagle Farm, McCall became the first woman to train a Stradbroke winner since the race began in 1893.

It was also the first Stradbroke win for Victorian jockey Damien Oliver who answered the call when Tim Bell elected to ride Sacred Star.

McCall took River Lad to Sydney in February and was tempted to keep him there after his second to classy mare Appearance in the Expressway Stakes.

"The temptation was there to keep him in Sydney and race for the big prize money at The Championships," McCall said.

"But the Stradbroke was a race I always wanted to win and we decided to bring him home and set him for this race."

In a contest run to suit the on-pace horses, River Lad ($31) staged a two-horse war with Temple of Boom ($26) before prevailing by a half head.

Victorian filly Srikandi ($6) finished third after being in that position for most of the race.

The winner ran the final 600 of the 1400m in 33.66s, making it virtually impossible for the backmarkers.

It was truly a win for the battlers because when River Lad first raced no one would have dared suggest he would win a group one.

At his second start, River Lad ran seventh in a maiden at Eidsvold in central Queensland in February 2010.

Four years later River Lad has won 13 races and A$1.7 million prize money. McCall, the daughter of trainer Ray McCall, admitted she had a soft spot for the Stradbroke after she strapped the 2001 winner Crawl for trainer John Hawkes.

But she thought her hopes were dashed when River Lad was hit by a mud clod when seventh in the Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm.

"We knew he was back on track when he won the BRC Sprint," she said. "It was a setback when Tim Bell elected to ride Sacred Star but we got one of the best in Damien."

Oliver said it was wonderful to win his first Stradbroke en route to Mauritius where he has a short-term contract.

"We were able to get across and then we were able to set our own pace," Oliver said.

Trainer Tony Gollan was thrilled with the run of Temple Of Boom who will now go for a spell before being prepared for a spring campaign.

His fellow group one-winning stablemate and younger brother Spirit Of Boom, who finished fourth, is off to stud at Eureka on the Darling Downs.

"It would have been nice to get the fairytale but not everyone gets them," Gollan said.

"But both horses have had a wonderful winter and they tried their hearts out today."

Glen Boss said Srikandi had come a long way in a short time and ran her heart out.

Trainer Ciaron Maher hopes the filly can return in the spring and be aimed at the Myer Classic.

The well-backed Hucklebuck ($6.50) finished sixth and jockey Dom Tourneur said the 3-year-old had been too keen early.AAP