A long and gruelling campaign had its reward, but not its end, when Streaky Fella claimed a hard-fought victory in the Stirling Mortlock Handicap at Flemington on Saturday.
“He’s been up for a fair while, but he’s showing no sign of slowing down,” said trainer Aaron Purcell.
“It’s amazing how well he’s done and how well he’s racing.”
Streaky Fella begin his current preparation last summer under the guidance of Darren Weir before being switched to Purcell’s Warrnambool stable in February.
Purcell set him for the Warrnambool Cup in May only to run into a bog track on which he finished fifth.
He then aimed him for the Banjo Paterson series at Flemington which began with a 3200m event in May and continued until last month when Streaky Fella finished second over 2600m at the same track.
“It’s remarkable that he keeps coming up and even more surprising that he has come back in distance today and run his best race since I’ve had him,” Purcell said.
“He seems to get better and better – he’s certainly not going backwards.”
Streaky Fella ($8.50) wore down the $2.60 favourite Galileo Gold to score by a half length with a long head to Sky Raider ($8.50) in third.
The earlier victory of Star Lani in the Mark Taylor Handicap (1000m) provided jockey Brad Rawiller a reward for sacrificing a day’s racing.
Victoria’s busiest rider, Rawiller took Friday off so he could be fit to ride Star Lani ($2.45) at the lower limit of his weight range.
“I had to work hard to get down the 55.5 (kilograms) so I gave Geelong a miss on Friday,” Rawiller said.
Star Lani, Rawiller’s only ride at Flemington, proved too strong as favourite for Loveyamadly ($3.10) to score by a long head.
