Imported New Zealand stayer Strathtay has made an impressive start to his Australian career, and he kept that strong form going with a third Sydney victory at Randwick.
A two-time winner in New Zealand for Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, the Preferment gelding relocated across the Tasman earlier this year and joined the powerful stable of expat Kiwi trainer Chris Waller.
Strathtay kicked off his Australian career with a fifth at Rosehill on June 1, followed by Saturday victories at Rosehill on June 15 and at Randwick on July 6. He finished fourth and fifth in his other two appearances on July 20 and August 10.
Saturday’s Good 4 track was a completely different surface to the heavy footing he relished through the winter months, but Strathtay was nevertheless sent out as a $3.30 favourite with horse racing bookmakers.
Patiently ridden by Nash Rawiller, Strathtay settled in second-last before working his way into clear air in the straight and lengthening impressively. The five-year-old reeled in Father’s Day and fellow Kiwi-bred Jabbawockeez and powered past them, opening up a winning margin of two lengths.
“He’s a lovely, big-striding horse,” Rawiller said. “It was a bit of a sprint home, and it ended up being a bit sticky for about 100m early in the straight. But I loved the way he accelerated, put himself into it and really went on with the job late.”
Strathtay has now had 14 starts for five wins and a placing, earning $302,978 for owner-breeder Iain Bruce.
“He’s done a great job in this preparation,” Waller said. “He was sent over from New Zealand and was a little bit unknown, but now he’s won three Saturday races.
“Nash is a good judge of pace. They didn’t look like they were going that quick, but he just got that little bit closer, and when Nash asked him for an action in the straight, it was there.”
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