Mark Riley’s punt at the Adelaide Magic Millions Sale last year looks like paying off after Stralia made a winning debut at Flemington on Saturday.
The Mornington trainer paid $140,000 for the Stratum colt and believes he now has a spring three-year-old on his hands after the youngster’s short-head win in the Victorian Carbine Club Plate (1000m).
“The punt we’ve taken with this, you’ve got no idea,” Riley said.
“Well it’s $140,000 worth of a punt.”
Stralia ($10) began from the rails draw and stayed along the inside up the straight as he scored in a driving finish over Dance Card ($12) with a head to Persecution ($12) and the well-backed Happy Galaxy ($3.80) who dead-heated for third.
Riley said he just had to buy the colt when he saw him at the sales and has remained as a major owner in the rising three-year-old.
It was the most he had ever paid for a yearling.
“I was told to keep my hands in my pocket but the horse is just an outstanding type of horse,” he said.
“I’ve always kicked myself going to the sales and not buying something that I really particularly wanted. And I wanted him.”
Riley was also full of praise for jockey Damien Oliver who got the best out of the debutant in the driving finish.
Oliver partnered Stralia about six weeks ago in an unofficial trial before the colt was named and Riley said the champion hoop had been keen to stick with him.
“That boosts your confidence,” the trainer said.
Riley was pleased to get the debut win out of the way but believes the best is still to come.
“I think he’s a good horse. You are only just seeing a part of him. He’s not really a 1000-metre horse,” he said.
