First Melbourne Metro Winner for Stryker

The foundation sire for progressive Victorian nursery Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, young Fastnet Rock stallion Stryker posted his first Melbourne metropolitan winner when talented filly Andrioli beat the colts to win at Sandown on Wednesday. 

The Robert Smerdon trained filly ran an encouraging sixth on debut behind Stoker in the $250,000 Inglis Premier race when she did plenty wrong, but with blinkers on and that run under her belt Andrioli was a different filly this time around.

She travelled well for Nick Hall behind the leader Slumberland and then dashed past the colt to win the 1200 metre maiden by two lengths.

“With blinkers on and being race fit, she got the job done,” said Hall.

“She’s still on a learning curve, but could easily progress to being Saturday grade.”

Andrioli was a $65,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Peter Carrick’s Lakeview Resources from the Three Bridges Thoroughbreds draft and is a half-sister to Group III placed Dehere Again from Group II winner Let’s Rock Again.

Named for a very attractive female Brazilian soccer player, Andrioli is the third winner for Stryker, whose progeny have sold well at the 2015 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale this week.

Stryker had three yearlings offered in the Book One part of the sale and all were sold at an average $68,333, which was 6.2 times his 2012 service fee of $11,000.

His best result was a colt from Royale Harmony that made $100,000 when secured by Eden Racing/Paul Willetts Bloodstock.

Stryker nearly made it a two state metropolitan when his smart daughter Sonesta finished second at Ascot in Perth after winning at the same venue at her previous start.

He finished the day on a high with his colt from Pintle sharing top honours at the 2015 Inglis Premier Session II Sale, fetching $100,000 for Three Bridges Thoroughbreds when secured by Inglis as agent.