Kiwi Grey to Tackle Aussie Greys

Media Release - Wednesday November 7

Showy grey Stratocaster has conquered his own colour in New Zealand and now he's attempting to do the same in Australia when he tackles the greys in the Off The Track Subzero Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on Thursday.

Stratocaster - RAce ImagesThe Emma-Lee and David Browne-trained gelding cruised to a three-quarter length victory in the Powerworx Greys (1400m) at New Plymouth last month and has since topped that run off nicely with a trial at Te Aroha before travelling over to Melbourne last week.

"We were hoping he would win like that (at New Plymouth), which obviously gave us the confidence to come over here," Emma-Lee Browne said.

"He was basically only going to Te Aroha for a gallop and he went up and ran second under his own steam, so we're very happy with how he trialed.

"He's travelled over really well, I am very happy with how he has settled in. He's a big, strong horse that always likes his food, so that's made the travelling a lot easier."

Browne is confident with her charge heading into Thursday's race, but does hold a slight concern over the 60kg he will carry.

"Hopefully he will go well," she said. "We were hoping to get a little less weight because it's a Benchmark 90 and he's only on 77, but the field hasn't come up overly strong and as a result we will have to carry a bit more weight than what we would have liked."

Stratocaster will be ridden by top Australian hoop Craig Williams and Browne said it will be an exciting experience for the horse's connections to have a runner in the Melbourne Cup carnival.

"It's great to have a runner on Oaks Day. That was one thing that we thought for our owners, that we may as well come over and have a go. It's good prizemoney and they get to come over here and be a part of the carnival."

Initially planned as a hit-and-run mission, Stratocaster's Melbourne campaign will be re-assessed after Thursday's race.

"We'll just see," Browne said. "We had just thought to come over for the one race, but definitive plans will be made post-race." – NZ Racing Desk

Footnote: Stratocaster owes his grey colouring  to his dashing shuttle sire Mastercraftsman (IRE).
Advertisment
More Reading...
Te Akau Chasing Another Cup Day Success
Last year’s Melbourne Cup Day concluded in success for Mark Walker in the Gr.3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m), a race he will chase back-to-back crowns in on Tuesday with Kiwi mare Quintessa.
Superstar for Mastercraftsman
Former Windsor Park shuttler Mastercraftsman (IRE) is no stranger to Group I success as a sire but may have soared to new heights with star filly Alpha Centauri, who posted her third consecutive win at the highest level overnight when winning the Group I Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Grey Targets Subzero on Cup Day
The Subzero Handicap (1400m), a race solely for registered grey thoroughbreds, has proven to be a fan favourite at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, and this year, Kiwis will have their own grey to barrack for.
Bellatrix Star May Back Up in G1 Champions Sprint
Te Akau and Fortuna Racing’s filly Bellatrix Star proved she is among Australia’s top sprinting three-year-olds last Saturday at Flemington, finishing second in the A$2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
Second Group One Win for Mastercraftsman Mare
The Chris Gibbs and Michelle Bradley-trained Danzdanzdance made it consecutive Group One successes when winning the Group I Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day in sensational fashion.
From Rogue to Racehorse
A one time rogue headed for the broodmare paddock is now a Randwick winner thanks to an inspired purchase and the patience and skill of Adam Mackrell and his team at Bell View Park Stud.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Two heats at the Rosehill trials on Monday morning over 900m and the quickest of those was won by an expensive son of Golden Slipper winning first season sire Farnan.
Will it be a fairytale finish for Tasmanian-bred mare The Map?
Fresh from sweeping the sire awards at the 2024 Tasmanian Racing Awards this season, the Armidale Stud team is in line for another significant achievement with The Map (Alpine Eagle x This Moment) flying the flag for resident stallion Alpine Eagle in the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 5 November.