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Stratocaster on Concorde path; Osman puts them to the Sword;
Stratocaster on Concorde path
Stratocaster is back on the black-print path after scoring effortlessly at Ellerslie on Sunday.
The Cambridge seven-year-old appreciated the drop back from the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m), in which he finished eighth on New Year’s Day at Ellerslie, and he was too good for his four opponents in the Swiss Deli 1200.
He was soon sent forward by rider Opie Bosson to track the pacemaker Memories Only and he was simply cruising approaching the home turn before going on to win by a length and a half from Yearn.
“More than likely he’ll run in the Concorde next,” said David Browne, who co-trains the gelding with wife Emma-Lee. “We’ll just see how he pulls up but that’s the likely race.”
The Gr.3 Preferment @ Brighthill Farm Concorde Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie on January 26, the same day as the Karaka Millions 2YO and 3YO features.
“It was perfect today,” Browne said. “They were going to go a bit slow and rather than argue with him back there Opie let him slide up and he was able to kick in the run home. It was a 10 out of 10 ride.”
Stratocaster has now won six of his 23 starts and picked up five placings.
Osman puts them to the Sword
Group One winner Sword of Osman is being set to add another black-type victory to his stellar record after winning the Auckland Co-op Taxis 1200 at Ellerslie on Sunday.
The Jamie Richards-trained runner was sent forward early by jockey Opie Bosson to sit on the speed throughout and ran away in the straight to win by 1-1/4 lengths over the fast-finishing The Chosen One, with two lengths back to Satriani in third.
The Savabeel gelding will return to the Auckland track in a fortnight to contest the Gr.3 Mongolian Khan Trophy (1200m) on Karaka Million night.
“He was in the Hallmark (Listed, 1200m) on Boxing Day, but we decided to wait. Thankfully we made the right decision,” Richards said.
“He had an exhibition gallop at Matamata and it was a good confidence boosting win yesterday for him. He will go into the Mongolian Khan in two weeks’ time in really good order.”
