Champion Thoroughbreds | Champion Thoroughbreds News 64098 Quick Back Up Pays Off For Gutsy Sea Strike

It proved a shrewd piece of horsemanship from trainer Ben Brisbourne to back Sea Strike up in Saturday’s $40,000 Woodend Cup at Kyneton, just five days after the Sea The Stars gelding endured a luckless run at Wagga.

Having his fourth start of the preparation, the five-year-old stayer was at peak fitness and that edge told late, as he outstayed the $1.90 favourite Luvya Mumma, who enjoyed a significant pull in the weights, conceding 6.5kg to the winner.

Regular rider Lachlan King, who has now partnered Sea Strike in all four of his career victories from nine rides, was keen to press on after Wagga, where the gelding was never fully tested after being badly crowded in the straight. Confident the run had not taken its toll, Brisbourne kept a close watch on the gelding through the week and saw no reason not to roll the dice again.

Slow into stride, Sea Strike was soon mustered into a handy position just behind the speed, travelling one off the fence. Conscious of the tight Kyneton circuit, King allowed the gelding to build momentum as the tempo lifted, and Sea Strike responded gamely when the pressure was applied. In a determined finish, he proved too strong, grinding his way past the odds-on favourite to score by a narrow but decisive 0.15 lengths.

The victory pushed Sea Strike’s career earnings beyond $100,000, now accrued from just 14 starts, and was a deserved reward for connections: Mperezive Racing, Mr R K Sweeney, Mrs T R Sweeney, Mr G C Green, Mr D C Harrop, Mr D H Long, Castagna, Mr P J Dunn, Mr G Seto, Jabradtral, Mr C D Hands, Sedgewyn, Mr T S Fisher, Mr J G Codner, Dream Team, Dr M Healy, 2023 1in5 Club and Mr S Nagaratnam.