RHILL SEPT 19 - STRYKER EDGES OUT FUNTANTES

By HRO | Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Rosehill, September 19, 2009.
Track - Good 3. Rail - out 6m.
Heritage Stakes (Listed) - 1200m. Time: 1-09.30.
1 Stryker; 2 Funtantes; 3 Sea Spur.

After placing behind Denman in the Group 1 Golden Rose at his latest outing, the Chris Waller trained Stryker appreciated the drop back to Listed company to break his maiden at start number nine.

A $600,000 yearling, Stryker jumped straight to the front with Queenslander Funtantes eyeballing him the whole way. At the 200m Funtantes headed Stryker and looked the winner briefly, but Stryker fought back in a close-quartered, no holds barred contest to get the verdict on the line. Of the others Sea Spur ran on nicely for third.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Chris Waller: "It's an important win. It's a Listed win coming off a Group 1 placing last start. A great ride by Jimmy Cassidy. He sat pretty on him for a long time. I was doing more work on him up in the stand because obviously it is a very important win to us.

A great patient family (Waller was referring to the Inghams who own Stryker) we haven't had the best of luck, but they've got some nice horses and there's some good Listed and Group races ahead.

“We did little with him in the three weeks since the Golden Rose. We freshened him right up. I guess that's the key to great staff that you can do that and a lot of time out picking grass and things like that... not too much hard galloping. He's fit, he knows what to do and he came to the races today fresh.

“Last preparation we were just pushing him a little bit because we were trying to get a horse towards the (Golden) Slipper for the family, but in retrospect he was never ready for it. His best is still to come."

Jockey Jim Cassidy: "The intention wasn't to lead. I was sort of hoping to box seat. I sort of dug to hold my spot early and ended up in front, so I dictated terms and was sort of happy to let Chris (Munce on Funtantes) come to me. I knew I had a bit of petrol in the tank and he dug deep so it was good.

“I think he's a horse that will keep taking the next step each time ... just whether it's now or later, but he certainly feels like the goods to me"

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
T Clark, rider of Excellent Point, was dislodged on the way to the barrier. Sea Spur jumped Away awkwardly. After travelling 200m, when the pace slowed St Augustine (H Bowman), which was endeavouring to take up a position behind Kanzan, was then obliged to shift in, which resulted in Sea Spur having to be restrained off the heels of St Augustine. H Bowman was advised to exercise more care.

Approaching the 100m Stryker and Funtantes came together due to both horses shifting ground, which restricted the whip action of C Munce, rider of Funtantes. Then near the 75m Funtantes became unbalanced when Stryker shifted out and made contact with that runner. A post race veterinary examination of Funtantes revealed the filly to have sustained multiple abrasions to the outside of the off-hind cannon region and also an abrasion below the chestnut on the inside of the same leg.

When questioned concerning Stryker leading today, J Cassidy stated his instructions from trainer Mr C Waller were to endeavour to take up the box seat position in second or third placing.

J Cassidy stated that, from his favourable draw and dropping back in distance, he pushed Stryker out of the barrier and, when Funtantes did not make a concerted effort to go forward to cross him, he elected to lead. He added he felt it was not an option to restrain, which would have allowed Funtantes to cross and have Kanzan, who was trapped three wide, to race to that filly's outside and, in so doing, give away the advantage he had established.

When questioned, H Bowman could offer no explanation for the disappointing performance of St Augustine, other than the colt in one of its lead up trials had not responded when ridden off the pace and may be a better horse when racing in the lead. A post race veterinary examination of St Augstine did not reveal any abnormalities.

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