Lightly-raced sprinter Stratana is building an impressive winning record and trainer Paul Perry is hoping that continues at Rosehill on Saturday.
A son of the Perry-trained 2005 Golden Slipper winner Stratum, Stratana has won four of his seven races including a last-start success at Rosehill two weeks ago.
The four-year-old on-pacer is the $2.90 favourite to improve on that record in Saturday’s Sharp Handicap (1200m).
“He’s one of them horses that has always shown a bit of ability,” Perry said.
“This is the hardest race he’s been in by far. We’ll know more about him after this.
“But he’s drawn well (barrier six) and he’s got a good weight so I would expect him to be competitive again.”
Stratana returned this preparation with a victory over 1200m on his home track at Newcastle on October 1.
He then ran into emerging talent Riva De Lago at Randwick when finishing third two weeks later, before returning to the winner’s stall with an on-pace victory over Embarrassed last time out.
“He’s come along fine since his last start,” Perry said.
“I couldn’t be happier with him.”
Perry has called on three-kilogram claiming apprentice Shaun Guymer to partner Stratana, as well as stablemates Guderian and Prince Braeman at the Rosehill meeting.
Guderian has been racing consistently in recent outings with a win and two seconds from his past three starts, all at Rosehill.
He’ll line up in the Flinders Lane Perfect Fit Shirt Handicap (1900m) while Prince Braeman runs in the Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Moscato Handicap (1500m).
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