Stakes Goals for Stryker 3YO

Media Release - Friday August 11
An early three-year-old plan is in place for the talented Not Usual Trip to bag his first black type victory.

"It will be quiet steps as he’s a lovely horse with a nice action,” said Donna Logan, who trains the Stryker colt with Chris Gibbs. "At this stage there’s a 1000 metre race for him here and then the stakes race.”

Not Usual Trip - Trish Dunnell

Not Usual Trip - Trish Dunnell

She was referring to the Listed Tavistock Northland Breeders’ Stakes at Ruakaka on September 16.

Not Usual Trip has impressed in a brief career with an easy debut win at Ellerslie in April before he finished fourth in the Listed Waikato Equine Centre Veterinary Stakes at Te Rapa behind Ardossan, who is now in Mick Price’s Caulfield stable.

He was then freshened to resume on his home track last month and he coasted to a five and a-half length victory.

Those performances have attracted buyer interest in Not Usual Trip, who is raced by Hongwei Chen and Alex Teng’s Horse Feng Bloodstock.

Meanwhile, there is confidence in Rocstock’s ability to add to his record in the near future.

"He’ll have his next start here and we think he will go pretty close, he’s a really smart horse,” Logan said.

Rocstock made his debut at Ruakaka last month and he overcome a chequered run to deliver at the first time of asking. The Tavistock gelding is raced by Ascot Farm’s Bruce and Maureen Harvey, whose son Glen secured him for $80,000 at Karaka in 2015.

His half-sister Dance For Money was a two-year-old debut winner last season for Awapuni trainer Gary Vile. – NZ Racing Desk.



Advertisment
More Reading...
Aussie Bred HK G3 Double
A pair of Group III races were run at Sha Tin on Sunday with victory in the two last stakes races of the HK season both going to Aussie bred geldings Beauty Joy and Copartner Prance, who is a half-brother to Aquis based sire Kobayashi.
Waikato Stud Weanling Draft Showcases Super Stallions
After a phenomenal few months for Waikato Stud’s stallion roster, the world-renowned nursery will offer six select progeny of those high-flying sires at this week’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka.
Highview Makes Welcome Return to Weanling Sale
Many of the vendors at this month’s NZB National Weanling Sale are familiar faces who are renowned for their quality drafts at this sale every year, but the 2025 edition also sees an old friend being welcomed back to the fold.
Ingham Homebred Wins on Debut
The brilliant all cerise colours of the Ingham family were carried by former smart Fastnet Rock sprinter Stryker and were seen to the fore at Canterbury on Wednesday when carried to victory by one of his offspring.
One to Watch – Cranbourne
Second in the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate last year to Tycoon Star, this Cosmic Force colt made light work of a maiden at Cranbourne on Sunday when bolting away to win as he pleased.
Countdown to NZB’s 2025 Weanling Sale
The countdown to NZB’s 2025 National Weanling Sale is underway, with a compact yet quality catalogue of 134 youngsters, plus 10 supplementary lots, selling this Thursday 26 June at Karaka. 
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 22
Here is the full list of 76 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch Wins Again!
It might be winter and all eyes may have been on Royal Ascot this week, but there was a winner at Flemington on Saturday that will have caught the eye of anyone with half an interest towards spring racing and emerging talent.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury
There were a whopping 10 heats won by juveniles at the Canterbury trials on Monday morning that included some interesting unraced youngsters by Zoustar, Zousain and Trapeze Artist, plus a good looking youngster that may see the benefit of gelding.
Bonny Grey Mare Wins G3 Strickland
Last December at Ascot, popular grey mare Admiration Express (My Admiration) nearly caused the upset result of the year when she charged home at odds of 100/1 in the G1 Northerly Stakes for second behind Victorian raider Light Infantry Man.