Bright Future for Stryker Filly

Promising Stryker filly She is Stryking kicked off her spring campaign with an easy win at Taupo in New Zealand on Wednesday.

The Frank Ritchie trained filly is now set to step it up a notch with the Listed O’Leary’s Fillies’ Stakes at Wanganui on September 5 her next likely goal.

“She tracked up nicely behind them on the turn and it was a nice run,” Ritchie said. “I’ve been looking at Wanganui for her and this was a perfect set up for that.”

Ritchie is confident She Is Stryking, a minor placegetter in last season’s Group II Wakefield Challenge Stakes and the Listed Murdoch Newell Stakes, will make an impression over more ground later in her preparation.

“She’s by a son of Fastnet Rock out of an Encosta de Lago mare so I think she’ll get a mile,” Ritchie said.

A $24,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale Summer Book purchase for her trainer from the Musk Creek Farm draft, She is Stryking is the second winner for Fashion Gala, a daughter of stakes-winner Fashion Victim.

This is the family of Group III winning stayer and Caulfield Cup place-getter Celestial Show, so She is Stryking may very well enjoy a slightly longer trip as her campaign progresses.

She is Stryking is the sixth winner for Three Bridges Thoroughbreds foundation sire Stryker, whose oldest progeny have just turned three and include promising stakes-winner Strykum, who is set to resume from a spell at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

The blue-blooded son of Fastnet Rock stands at a fee of $11,000 this spring.