Stradbroke Handicap: Fairytale story of $101 pop and his trainer

Little known Brisbane trainer Lauren Abbott could write a fairytale new chapter in Stradbroke Handicap history next Saturday.

Brisbane trainer Lauren Abbott with Superstorm. Photo by Lachie Millard

Lauren Abbott could have once been penning a story about Saturday’s $3m Stradbroke Handicap rather having a fairytale chance at winning Queensland’s most prestigious horse race.

The one-time school dux and former jockey did a journalism course at university and once worked at a magazine publishing company and wrote racing stories for racing publications.

Fast forward to 2023 and Abbott has been a horse trainer for four years and the highlight will come on Saturday at Eagle Farm.

The relatively unknown Eagle Farm trainer has never had a runner in a Stakes race before but will saddle up Group 1 winner Superstorm in the Stradbroke.

Superstorm might be a $101 chance in betting markets but he has won a Group 1 race (the Cantala Stakes at Flemington in 2021) and boasts another four placings in Group 1 races as well as finishing second in the $5m All-Star Mile in 2020.

Once owned by leviathan Perth owner Bob Peters and trained in Melbourne, clients of Abbott purchased the galloper for $70,000 at an online horse sale in March.

Superstorm, who has won almost $3m in career prizemoney, has had some injury issues in the past and was beaten a long way when he last raced at Moonee Valley in January.

But his owners are daring to dream their $70,000 investment can land the rich payday of the $1.8m Stradbroke first prize.

“It’s a pretty cheap punt to take,” Abbott said.

“It’s very hard to buy a Group 1 winner for $70,000, he only has to be half right to be very competitive in the Stradbroke.

“I am always looking for tried racehorses – that’s my bread and butter.

“One of my good owners who has been with me from the start … he is always on the lookout for a decent horse.

“I saw Superstorm was in an online Sale and we went from there, to be honest we thought the horse would go for well over $100,000.

“I have a piece of paper (degree) to say I’m a journalist.

“But I always had an interest in training horses and I’ve had a trainers’ license for about four years now.”

Superstorm, who will be ridden in the Stradbroke by champion Brisbane jockey Jimmy Orman, is guaranteed a run in Queensland’s best race because of the gelding’s high rating.

And Abbott insists Superstorm won’t be there just making up the numbers.

It has been a labour of love getting Superstorm to the point where he is ready to fire in his first start for Abbott.

“He has had issues in the past – he had a throat operation and also had an operation to remove a splint bone,” Abbott said.

“He wasn’t a very happy horse when he turned up at my stable, he was a bit dirty on the world.

“I have just focused on getting the horse happy and sorting out any niggling little issues.

“All I have done really is to put my trust in the horse.

“He has the ability, so we will just leave it up to him.”

In preparation for the Stradbroke, Abbott said she hasn’t overly taxed Superstorm on the training track but has taken him to the beach on plenty of occasions.

Superstorm is aiming to become of the longest priced Stradbroke winners in the grand history of the race which was first staged in 1890.