IN STRIKEN FORM

What can I say about STRIKEN that hasn't been said before? The horse made his race debut nearly four years ago and in that time he has gone to the races on 46 occasions. He has started favourite on a number of occasions only to let his supporters down but he always managed to run a good enough race to convince the poor punter to give him another go. He managed to do that again and again and again.

As far as his owners, jockey's and trainer were concerned, the horse was frustrating but consistent and would generally manage to put a dollar or two into every one's bank account. He soon became the brunt of many jokes and the scourge of many punters. It got to the point where his owners considered sending him to Kalgoorlie to continue his racing. Had it not been for a period of a few weeks when he became a barrier rogue for no apparent reason, I am sure he would have been in Kalgoorlie right now. It was his bad barrier manners at the time which saved him as we all felt he was to much of a risk to send up there!

Fast forward eight months and we have a reborn horse, racing with a determination and attitude which we rarely see today. So much so that the horse has gone from having a winning strike rate of one in fourteen to one in seven and a half. It is very rare for a horse to improve their winning strike rate as they get older, certainly when they get past four years of age, however what this horse has done is really quite amazing. Along the way he has also managed to pocket around $310,000 for his connections. Not bad for a "bridesmaid" and for a horse who was labelled in yesterdays press as the "knock of the day" by the form analyst.

I have absolutely no idea what has brought about the turn around with the horse except maybe he was a late maturer. Either way the horse looks like maintaining his place in the stables for a while yet and there are no immediate plans for him to visit Kalgoorlie.In the meantime I have to say that over the years I have been asked on more than one occasion whether horses know if they have won a race? One visit to inspect STRIKEN at the stables will tell you that he certainly does. I have never seen a more confident and happy looking animal in the stables. He has developed a personality and an air of superiority about himself which I hope he can maintain for another season or more. Go "Lex!"