A revitalised Strat’s Flyer will be out to enhance his trainer’s reputation as a minor miracle worker at Randwick on Saturday.
Now trained on the NSW south coast by Anne-Maree Robinson, Strat’s Flyer, an off-season stakeswinning sprinter, returns to city racing in the SCCF Ken Callander Fellowship Handicap (1400m).
Robinson, the daughter of famed horseman Kevin Robinson, has inherited her father’s knack for reviving the racing careers of battle-weary racehorses.
Her best result so far came with Friday Creek, a sprinter who went winless for more than two years before he claimed the 2009 Concorde Stakes in a $91 upset.
Judging on a pleasing first-up run in the Wagga Wagga Town Plate, Strat’s Flyer could produce a similar result.
It seems like a long way from a 22-length defeat at his last Sydney appearance in February, a run which was supposed to bring down the curtain on Strat’s Flyer’s tradesmanlike racing career.
“His owner was actually going to retire him before a family friend, Pat Murray, suggested he send the horse down to me,” Robinson said.
“He said I could take him if I leased him.”
On the back of an excuse-riddled three-length sixth to How Much My Love at Wagga, Robinson heads to Randwick with some expectation.
“Nathan (Berry) lost an iron after the start at Wagga and he had to go back further than he wanted to,” Robinson said.
“Then he virtually got screwed sideways on the turn but the horse showed a lot of courage to get going and he really worked home strongly.
“I’ve had him for eight weeks and I’m still working him out but there is a fair amount of improvement left.
“There’s a bit of wear and tear with him being an older horse but he loves the beach and he loves walking in the water.
“At the moment I’ve got him as well as can be and now I suppose the rest is up to the horse.”
Strat’s Flyer, to be ridden by 2kg claiming apprentice Taylor Lovelock-Wiggins, was one of 16 acceptors.
The field, however, has already been reduced to 14 with the scratchings of dual acceptor Little Surfer Girl and Opposite Poles.
AAP TURF
