Matt Dale will weigh up Stradbroke Handicap tilt with Front Page after Moreton Cup win

It would be uncharted territory but trainer Matt Dale indicated 'the discussion will be had' about giving evergreen sprint warrior Front Page a crack at next Saturday's Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.
Rising nine-year-old Front Page has never won over 1400m – and indeed only raced over that trip once before – but on Saturday at Eagle Farm won the Group 2 Moreton Cup over 1200m which gives him a golden ticket into the Stradbroke (1400m).
Connections would need to pay a hefty late-entry fee and they and Goulburn trainer Dale must decide whether it is worthwhile given Front Page is primarily known for his deeds over nippier sprint trips.
But after scoring the Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm, Dale certainly wasn't ruling out a Stradbroke tilt.
'The (Stradbroke) discussion will be had,' Dale said.
'We will certainly give some thought to it.
'A decision will be made on Tuesday, he will either be racing in the Stradbroke or going out for a month in the paddock here in Queensland.
'It's a good problem to have.
'He is a tough old horse who is rock solid fit and he ran right through the line today.
'We will enjoy this win and then dissect everything.'
Front Page makes himself newsworthy with a big win in the G2 Moreton Cup! ðŸ'° ðŸ�† @clarkyhk @BrisRacingClub pic.twitter.com/qdFbUxpeti
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025
Adding to the complexity of Dale's decision is that it looks, at least on paper, to be shaping up to be one of the weakest Stradbrokes in recent times.
Progressive Lindsay Park sprinter War Machine tops the Stradbroke betting market but there are few in the likely Stradbroke field who are standing out on stalks seven days out from the great race.
Even if he doesn't contest the Stradbroke, Front Page won more fans on Saturday with his first win since scoring the $2m The Kosciuszko in 2023, his second triumph in that rich race after also scoring it the previous year.
Front Page ($4.40) settled down to fight the Moreton Cup out with Tony Gollan's galloper Hidden Wealth and was stronger in the final stages.
'He's just an absolute beauty,' Dale declared.
'We came up here today rapt with how the horse was.
'The track has dried out all week but the track is still a bit choppy, and at the top of the straight I thought we were in a little bit of trouble.
'But he was prepared to get down and dirty and tough it out.
'I didn't think he looked as comfortable as he does on a good surface, but Timmy (jockey Tim Clark) knows him well and he did a great job sitting off Hidden Wealth.'