Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Monday’s King’s Birthday public holiday meeting at Canterbury attracted a competitive and deep field of pedigrees in the opening event.
The 1250-metre maiden was won by the beautifully bred Steel Strike (by Exceed And Excel), trained by the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable. Ridden by Tim Clark, the colt was headed by Chris Waller’s $750,000 colt Rugby (by Dundeel {NZ}), who looked sure to claim the maiden.
However, Clark urged Steel Strike along, and the Go Bloodstock-colour bearer dug deep to wrestle back the advantage and break his maiden at start two in impressive fashion.
Rugby was then headed out of second by Ciaron Maher’s Sacred Fort, a son of Newgate Farm’s Tassort. Running fourth was Manos, a $1.1 million son of Snitzel.
No stopping Go Bloodstock
Go Bloodstock homebreds have been firing this season on the track, with its juveniles making a mark. They claimed the G1 Golden Slipper with Lady Of Camelot (by Written Tycoon) and have another smart 3-year-old prospect in Steel Strike.
The colt’s pedigree is all blue-chip. Bred and raced by Go Bloodstock Australia, he is by the pensioned Exceed And Excel, the sire of 217 stakes winners worldwide. Steel Strike is the fourth foal from the Street Cry (Ire) mare Pittsburgh Flyer, who won the G3 GH Mumm S. and finished fourth in the G1 Oakleigh Plate.
Exceed And Excel | Image courtesy of Darley
Pittsburgh Flyer’s first foal, September Run, a full sister to Steel Strike, was supremely talented, winning the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and the G1 William Reid S. September Run was retired last year and served by Widden Stud’s Zoustar in the spring.
The daughter of Street Cry’s second foal, My Yankee Girl (American Pharoah {USA}), has won five races, including at Flemington. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Flyer’s third foal, a filly by Merchant Navy named Steel City, won the G3 Magic Night S.
Pittsburgh Flyer foaled a colt by I Am Invincible in August and was served by Snitzel in the spring.
Shades of In The Congo?
Speaking to The Thoroughbred Report after Steel Strike’s gripping victory, Go Bloodstock’s Steve O’Connor said, “He’s always been a colt we’ve had a big opinion of.”
Commenting on Steel Strike’s debut fourth at Warwick Farm, O’Connor mentioned, “We were slightly disappointed on debut, but he bounced back to form today (Monday), which was very pleasing to see because he’s a colt that is beautiful physically and has a great pedigree.
“So, he’s a colt we always felt had a lot of potential. He’s off to a good start, breaking his maiden at his second start, and we’re very happy to see that.”
“So, he’s (Steel Strike) a colt we always felt had a lot of potential. He’s off to a good start, breaking his maiden at his second start, and we’re very happy to see that.” - Steve O' Connor
Asked about what could be in store for Steel Strike after Monday’s success, O’Connor told TTR AusNZ, “We’ve had horses before with Gai (Waterhouse) and Adrian (Bott) like In The Congo, who ran once or twice over the winter, and then came back and was good enough to win the G1 Golden Rose.”
In The Congo won as a 2-year-old in May at Kensington-Randwick, then placed in a 2-year-old H. at Randwick in June. He contested the Listed The Rosebud first-up, beaten by Paulele before turning the tables on that colt in the G3 San Domenico.
The son of Snitzel was then beaten by Anamoe in the G2 Run To The Rose but worked his magic and turned the tables on the rival in the G1 Golden Rose.
Steve O' Connor
“Those are the types of races that we'd be looking at with Steel Strike. We will speak to Gai and Adrian and work out whether he’ll run this preparation or he gets a little break and comes back for the spring.”
