War Machine Wins $3M Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm

War Machine, trained by the Hayes brothers Ben, Will, and JD, secured an emotional and emphatic Group 1 victory in the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm, marking the Hayes family's first win in Queensland's signature race. The win honored the late bloodstock agent Michael Wallace and the late trainer Mike Moroney, both closely connected to War Machine's journey. Ridden by Tim Clark, War Machine executed a powerful finish to hold off challengers Yellow Brick and Private Eye, maintaining an undefeated streak since joining the Hayes stable. The horse, a Harry Angel gelding, was originally bred by the Wallace family and had a modest start at sales before flourishing under the Hayes brothers' care. Ben Hayes expressed pride in the horse and the win, noting the potential for a future showdown with their father David Hayes’s trainee, Ka Ying Rising, in the prestigious Everest race. Tim Clark praised War Machine’s performance and the preparation by the Hayes team, emphasizing the horse's athleticism despite his name suggesting a larger frame.