Pint size sprinter Red Striker made it a memorable day for Jim Collett and his daughter Samantha as they combined to take out the Listed Hallmark Stud Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie courtesy of a reversal of placings in the enquiry room.
Speedy mare Onlyarose, sporting the familiar colours of co-owner and major sponsor on the day Cambridge Stud’s Sir Patrick Hogan, had controlled the pace during the 1200 metre contest to land a narrow win at the expense of Red Striker before the protest siren sounded to signal the result was far from settled.
Footage of the concluding stages of the event showed the winner had taken the line of Red Striker with the judicial committee agreeing with trainer Jim Collett that a winning chance had been denied to his charge.“I guess I rode in enough races to know that once I saw the footage the chances of a change of placings were pretty high,’’ noted Collett.
“Our mare had her chances impeded and with a narrow margin and the rate at which we were finishing I thought we were a big chance to get the win.”Collett was delighted with the ride of his daughter after setting a pre-race plan with her.
“You let them make their own decisions when they are out there but when we drew such a good barrier I knew if Sam could ride a race we were a big show,” he said.“The mare is only 15 hands high and so she can’t get knocked around too much during the running. Sam had her in a lovely spot on the fence and when she got a little clear air she showed just what a powerful finish she has.”
Red Striker will now head to the spelling paddock for a week to ten days before Collett prepares her for a shot at the Gr. 3 Darley Plate on BMW Derby Day on March 5.
