Kiwi Grey to Tackle Aussie Greys

Media Release - Wednesday November 7

Showy grey Stratocaster has conquered his own colour in New Zealand and now he's attempting to do the same in Australia when he tackles the greys in the Off The Track Subzero Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on Thursday.

Stratocaster - RAce ImagesThe Emma-Lee and David Browne-trained gelding cruised to a three-quarter length victory in the Powerworx Greys (1400m) at New Plymouth last month and has since topped that run off nicely with a trial at Te Aroha before travelling over to Melbourne last week.

"We were hoping he would win like that (at New Plymouth), which obviously gave us the confidence to come over here," Emma-Lee Browne said.

"He was basically only going to Te Aroha for a gallop and he went up and ran second under his own steam, so we're very happy with how he trialed.

"He's travelled over really well, I am very happy with how he has settled in. He's a big, strong horse that always likes his food, so that's made the travelling a lot easier."

Browne is confident with her charge heading into Thursday's race, but does hold a slight concern over the 60kg he will carry.

Advertisement

"Hopefully he will go well," she said. "We were hoping to get a little less weight because it's a Benchmark 90 and he's only on 77, but the field hasn't come up overly strong and as a result we will have to carry a bit more weight than what we would have liked."

Stratocaster will be ridden by top Australian hoop Craig Williams and Browne said it will be an exciting experience for the horse's connections to have a runner in the Melbourne Cup carnival.

"It's great to have a runner on Oaks Day. That was one thing that we thought for our owners, that we may as well come over and have a go. It's good prizemoney and they get to come over here and be a part of the carnival."

Initially planned as a hit-and-run mission, Stratocaster's Melbourne campaign will be re-assessed after Thursday's race.

"We'll just see," Browne said. "We had just thought to come over for the one race, but definitive plans will be made post-race." – NZ Racing Desk

Footnote: Stratocaster owes his grey colouring  to his dashing shuttle sire Mastercraftsman (IRE).
Advertisment
More Reading...
Second Group One Win for Mastercraftsman Mare
The Chris Gibbs and Michelle Bradley-trained Danzdanzdance made it consecutive Group One successes when winning the Group I Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day in sensational fashion.
Tara Talks Racing – This Week We Talk to Bennett Racing
In the wash up of last Saturday’s great day of spring racing there was no winner that meant more to his connections than Group I MVRC Moir Stakes victory Baraqiel, so our obvious guest this week had to be Nathan Bennett.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 8
Here is the full list of 18 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Saint Emilion Wins Group Three
Rugged front-runner Saint Emilion once again showed his penchant for the Ellerslie track when he led all the way to win the Group III OMF Stakes (2000m) on Tuesday.
New G1 Winner for Wootton Bassett
Back in Australia for another season at Coolmore, Wootton Bassett (GB) was expected to get a 3YO Group I winner in France on Sunday, but the horse that got the job done was not the one punters expected.
Vale, Fastnet Rock
Fastnet Rock was a crowd pleaser when paraded as a living legend at the Coolmore stallion parade last month, but sadly this spring was to be his last. 
Impressive First Foals for Don Corleone
The first son of outstanding sire Extreme Choice to find his way to Queensland, Group I performer Don Corleone proved very popular with breeders last spring covering 133 mares at Eureka Stud and his first foals are exactly what you might hope for.
Barneswood Farm Trans Tasman Strike
A trans-Tasman ownership double prompted long and enthusiastic celebrations for Ashburton’s Barneswood Farm.
Shamus Award Mare Quintessa Cracks $1million in Prizemoney
Karaka graduate Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) became a millionaire and a dual Group One winner with a stunning last-to-first performance in the $400,000 Group One Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Danzdanzdance Glides to Group One Success
Four-year-old mare Danzdanzdance made light-work of her rivals in Saturday’s Group1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham and could be New Zealand Racing’s next weight-for-age star.