Bond 007 mates will be shaken and stirred if The Inflictor wins Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap on Saturday
The members of syndicate Bond 007 will be both shaken and stirred if The Inflictor can complete a fairytale story and win Saturday's $3m Stradbroke Handicap.
The seven mates are living the dream, with the four-year-old gelding making the Stradbroke field after last December winning the $300,000 The Gateway, which offers a golden ticket into Queensland's premier race.
Some members of Bond 007 had placed bets on The Inflictor at $201 for the Stradbroke after his The Gateway victory and will collect a small fortune if jockey Cejay Graham can win her first Group 1 on Saturday at Eagle Farm.
And that's not even mentioning the $1.8m cheque which will be shared among connections of the winning horse.
'We're just pinching ourselves that we're even here really,' syndicate member Jim Matthews said at the Breakfast at the Stars at Eagle Farm on a chilly Brisbane morning on Tuesday.
'It's a dream just to have a runner in a Group 1. Whatever he does on the weekend is a bonus but we think he'll run well.
'It's the biggest race in Queensland. It's crazy to even think about it.'
The Bond 007 members are good mates from way back, having played and coached together for the
Moreton Bay AFL club (formerly Caboolture Lions) some 20 years ago.
Just like The Inflictor's trainer Craig Cousins, they're Aussie battlers riding a wave of emotion built on a passion for horse racing and a love of the punt.
'We all played footy together 15 or 20 years ago and everyone was into a punt on a Saturday,' Matthews said.
'Over time we said 'why don't we chip in and get into horse racing?'
'We started with seven in the syndicate which is why we called it Bond 007.'
Asked about the wild celebrations if The Inflictor can win the biggest race of his career, syndicate leader Shane Pleming joked that it could be a heart-stopping affair.
'I don't know what will happen. One of us already has a heart problem but the rest of us, we might all drop dead in the stands,' Pleming said with a laugh.
'But look, he's a stunning horse and he keeps getting better. It's easy to train a good horse and Craig has done a great job because he looks magnificent.
'We're right in it because they're all talking about the favourite (War Machine) but we ran just as good a time carrying 61.5kg and he carried only 56.5kg on the same day at Doomben (on May 24).'
Hobby trainer and truck driver Cousins, who only has three horses in work, would deliver one of the great Stradbroke stories if he can win on Saturday.
'He's just a decent bloke,' syndicate member John Jeffrey said.
'He's a battler and happy to admit it but he does a good job because the horse always looks well and he races well.
'It'd be a fairytale, there's no doubt about it. Two years ago we were out at the Sunny Coast, up in Toowoomba, out at Gatton, all the provincial tracks and now we're in a Group 1.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Australian
39 minutes ago
- The Australian
NRL 2025: Tallyn Da Silva makes immediate switch from Tigers to the Eels
Tallyn Da Silva could play his first game for Parramatta against Penrith next week after the talented hooker was granted an early release from the Wests Tigers to join the blue and golds effective immediately. Da Silva has signed until the end of the 2029 season in a huge coup for the Eels who have locked in an exciting spine headlined by Mitchell Moses and featuring young guns Isaiah Iongi and Joash Papalii. The decision comes on the back of the Tigers putting their faith in veteran Api Koroisau who remains one of the best hookers in the game, with his experience crucial for a club that needs veteran leadership. Tallyn Da Silva has joined the Eels on a long-term deal. Picture:The 20-year-old was stuck playing on the bench and is good enough to be playing big minutes elsewhere. But it's a great result for Parramatta who have been crying out for a crafty No.9 ever since Reed Mahoney left after the 2022 Grand Final. 'Tallyn is a very talented hooker with great skills and a strong running game which complements our squad nicely,' Eels general manager of football Mark O'Neill said. 'His attributes match the style of football our head coach Jason Ryles is wanting to play, and we look forward to welcoming Tallyn and his family to our club.' Junior Tupou has left the Dolphins to join the Roosters. Picture: NRL Photos Meanwhile, the Roosters have picked up Dolphins winger Junior Tupou until the end of the 2027 season. Tupou joined the Dolphins this year but only played the first two matches before he was demoted to NSW Cup, with Selwyn Cobbo's arrival next year leaving him on the outer. He returns to Sydney effective immediately after spending the first three years of his career at the Tigers. 'Junior is an exciting young player with size, speed and power,' Roosters head of recruitment Daniel Anderson said. 'He adds some terrific depth to our outside backs and we're looking forward to seeing his development over the next few years.'
Daily Telegraph
an hour ago
- Daily Telegraph
AFL 2025; Tom Lynch to face tribunal for striking
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Richmond star Tom Lynch was fined twice and faces up to five weeks on the sidelines for his MCG tantrum after being sent straight to the tribunal. Lynch was reported for striking Adelaide defender Jordan Butts off the ball following a contest between the pair during which he made contact with the head of the Crows defender after a wild swing with his arm. But while the blow glanced off Butts' head, Lynch could still face a hefty ban after being charged with intentional conduct, with severe impact and high contact. The premiership winner also was handed two fines totalling more than $4600, one for engaging in a melee and another for striking. Tom Lynch gets heated. Picture: Mark Stewart Lynch apologised to his teammates and had some sympathy from his coach, Adem Yze, but he was also told there were few excuses for his behaviour. 'He apologised to the group because he knew he let them down just by letting it spill over,' Yze said. '... he's been such a good player at this footy club for a long time. 'He's got white-line fever, and he wants to win.' 'I was going to address it, a couple of reverse free kicks, which was just pure frustration and showing that he cares,' Yze said. 'For him to talk to the group before I even had a chance to talk to them, and then almost put his heart on his sleeve in front of the group, was exactly why he's been the player that he is.' Lynch said the incident was the result of 'frustration' after being manhandled by Adelaide defenders in the mammoth loss. 'I didn't want to cause harm or anything like that. I was just trying to get free or whatever and frustration came out,' Lynch told Seven. 'Clearly … I gave away too many free kicks and it is not good enough as a leader. I thought we were playing pretty well in that second quarter and I pretty much stopped the momentum. Originally published as Richmond forward Tom Lynch has been sent straight to the tribunal for his haymaker at the MCG on Sunday
Daily Telegraph
an hour ago
- Daily Telegraph
Kevin Proctor breaks silence after being KO'd at RUNIT event by Jordan Simi in Dubai
Don't miss out on the headlines from Other Sports. Followed categories will be added to My News. Former NRL star Kevin Proctor has no regrets about taking part in RUNIT 02 in Dubai over the weekend, despite suffering a shocking knockout that has gone viral on social media. The 282 NRL game second rower came off second best after getting his head in the wrong position in an exhibition run it straight contest against former lower grade footy player turned social media influencer Jordan Simi. Footage of the hit showed the former Kiwis forward face-plant onto the astroturf with his arms and legs stiffening as medical personnel rush to him. Proctor was cleared by a doctor the morning after the event and is flying back to Australia. In his first comments since the event, Proctor thanked RUNIT organisers and admitted he got the hit wrong. 'Just want to say thank you to everyone that has messaged me to ask if I was alright,' Proctor wrote on Instagram before flying back to Australia. 'I'm all good. 'We all know what we sign up for getting in there. 'It's a contact sport and unfortunately I put my head in the wrong place and came out second best. 'Ya win some ya lose some ... but no hard feelings. Hats off to the bro. It is what it is. 'I got in there had a crack at least. 'I like to thank @ for having me! Still grateful to be apart of it and im sure you guys are only going to get bigger n bigger. 'Congrats to all the winners and organisation for putting on a great event. 'On my way back home now to see my darling, kids and family ... thanks again to everyone for the support.' Kevin Proctor's collision with Jordan Simi. Picture: Supplied/Instagram Simi – Proctor's opponent in the exhibition run it straight challenge – is sitting beside him in the Instagram post, and commented: 'Don't do that again yeahhhh. Got me in trouble with your mumsy. Love brother.' The Dubai event was the third high profile competition RUNIT has staged after similar contests in Melbourne and Auckland in May. The event had a massive prize pool, with first place leaving with $200,000, second place pocketing $50,000 and third place walking away with $25,000. A social media sensation, RUNIT has gone viral with clips of big hits and thunderous collisions spreading like wildfire on Instagram and TikTok. It has attracted a huge amount of criticism as well though, with dozens of CTE experts slamming it. Meanwhile the Warriors, New Zealadn Rugby League, Rugby Australia and the Melbourne Storm hav moved to distance themselves from the craze. Originally published as Former NRL star Kevin Proctor breaks silence after sickening KO by social media influencer at RUNIT event in Dubai
