Great Saturday for Astern

Tara Madgwick - Saturday June 5

Saturday was a good day at the office for young Darley sire Astern, who posted a new stakes-winner in New Zealand and a debut winner at Morphettville in Adelaide.

Ryan Elliot and Danger Strykes take out the Listed John Turkington Forestry Ltd Castletown Stakes (1200m) Photo Credit: Race Images – Grant Matthew
Lightly raced Cambridge visitor Danger Strykes confirmed she has big future ahead of her with a comprehensive victory in the Listed John Turkington Forestry Ltd Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Whanganui on Saturday.

Handled confidently by rider Ryan Elliot, the Tony Pike-trained daughter of Astern settled nicely on the outer behind a hot speed set up by race favourite Taoiseach.

Angled into the clear at the 300m, Danger Strykes quickly dashed to the lead before holding out a late run from Ima Roca Bee to win by a neck, with Bellacontte making up good ground to finish third.
Pike, who was on track at Ellerslie, was delighted with the victory and the $8.70 win price on the totalisator.

“I can’t believe she blew out to that price as we were very confident she could win,” Pike said.


“She had gone a nice race back in February when she ran third on debut, as she was still a very weak filly at that stage.

“We put her aside and she has really strengthened up nicely.

“I gave her a trial at home last month that she won quite comfortably and I thought she had trained on well since then.

“She is a filly we have always liked and she did the job nicely today.”

Pike will now Danger Strykes back to the spelling paddock before looking ahead to some bigger spring targets.

“She was still a little green today as she pricked her ears when she hit the front and started gawking around,” he said.

“I don’t think she liked the track that much either as she was dipping and diving ,so she can go out again and we will bring her back for some of those early spring three-year-old filly features.”

The second stakes-winner for Astern, Danger Strykes is out of the stakes-placed Stryker mare She Is Stryking and hails from an extended family that includes Group I Caulfield Cup (2400m) placegetter Celestial Show.

Astern sired his eighth first crop winner when Somewatt Fabulous scored a comfortable debut win over 1250m for the Richard and Chantelle Jolly stable.

 



Advertisement
They purchased the filly for $45,000 from the Kingstar Farm draft at Inglis Classic and she is the first winner for Group II placed Shocking mare Megawatt.

Astern

A Group I winning son of Medaglia D’Oro (USA), Astern stands at a fee of $16,500 this spring.

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Castletown Stakes LR 1200m

Wanganui Track: Slow(9) Time: 1:13.95
1
Danger Strykes
- 2f Astern (AUS) x She Is Stryking (AUS) (Stryker (AUS))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: R T Elliot 54.5
2
0.3
Ima Roca Bee
- 2f El Roca (AUS) x Shelly Bee (NZ) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: Ms K McQuade Rdr: E M Leighton 54.5
3
1.8
Bellacontte
- 2f Burgundy (NZ) x Devon Doll (NZ) (Tavistock (NZ))
Tnr: C A Bambry Rdr: S J Macnab 54.5
4
2.0
Miss Ipenema
- 2f Sacred Falls (NZ) x Miss Elusive (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: G J Harvey Rdr: T L Taiaroa 54.5
5
2.2
Platinum Machine
- 2f Free Eagle (IRE) x Cruz By (NZ) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: Ms L Latta Rdr: K R Hercock 54.5
6
4.7
Fermanagh
- 2f Foxwedge (AUS) x Inniskillen (NZ) (Centaine (AUS))
Tnr: A M Bull Rdr: L J Allpress 54.5
7
5.5
Iffshecan
- 2f Iffraaj (GB) x La Sommeliere (NZ) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: C W Cole Rdr: T L Newman 54.5
8
6.3
Taoiseach
- 2g Highly Recommended (AUS) x Borntobeirish (AUS) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Andrew Campbell Rdr: R H Schofer 56.5
9
12.6
Durban Way
- 2f Ekraar (USA) x Hazynite (AUS) (Encounter (AUS))
Tnr: C R Isdale Rdr: T K Allan 54.5
10
13.6
Express Yourself
- 2f Shamexpress (NZ) x Whitehaven Girl (AUS) (Umatilla (NZ))
Tnr: R J Patterson Rdr: L H Satherley 54.5
More Reading...
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday November 20
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Halo Racing Reduction features in November (Late) catalogue
Shares in reigning G1 Caulfield Cup champion Duke de Sessa, G1 Toorak Hcp winner Attrition and tomorrow’s G1 Railway Stakes favourite Light Infantry Man headline an exciting Inglis Digital November (Late) Online Sale.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Luberon Heads Cambridge Stud Saturday Charge
Lance Noble will attempt to add to a strong run of spring form for Cambridge Stud when he sends out five well-credentialled runners in Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s black and gold colours at Pukekohe on Saturday.