Traffic slowed in Melbourne’s Domain Tunnel late on Friday afternoon as fellow road users peered in concern and amusement at the racket emerging from a vehicle towing a horse float.
This wasn’t a road-rage incident, however, just the response to the first leg of a career-first training double for in-form and excited Lang Lang horsewoman Allison Sheehan.
She’ll Strykeya’s victory at Mornington in the Mornington Car & Tyre Services BM64 Handicap (1200m) was later matched by Alonzah in the Sweeney Estate Agents We Know West Maiden Plate (1200m) at Moonee Valley. Thankfully horse and trainer arrived on time for the latter assignment.
Resuming from a spell with Linda Meech in the saddle, She’ll Strykeya scored her third win (to go with seven minor placings) from 18 trips to the races. The five-year-old Stryker mare looks set for a prosperous summer campaign.
Alonzah broke her maiden with Nikita Beriman aboard at her fifth start. Alonzah is a four-year-old mare by Zuberi from Pride of Ardrossan, making her a half-sister to the best horse Sheehan has trained, Andrassy (by Sharkbite).
Andrassy, a four-time city winner, has recently been confirmed in foal to Dream Ahead, who stands at Aquis Farm in the Hunter Valley. Pride of Ardrossan recently gave birth to a Helmet colt, and has been served by Darley stallion Kuroshio.
Sheahan has her boutique stable (currently seven) firing, with five of her past nine runners successful.
The hard-working and very much hands-on trainer prepares her team from her 30-acre (12Ha) establishment in tranquil Lang Lang, with her horses venturing to the state-of-the-art Cranbourne training complex for their serious workouts.
Sheehan has always credited her ability to ride her horses in trackwork as a huge asset, enabling her to gauge accurately the progress of each horse and prepare a work schedule that suits.
Sheehan is delighted to have trained her first double and with the outstanding form of her stable.
“It was tough and nerve-racking not being at Mornington — that’s only the second time I’ve missed watching one of my runners live (from 460 starters).  
“It was a great result, although I did get some very strange looks from truck drivers in the tunnel.”
The Sheehan stable will be represented by El Questro in the BM64 (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday, with Luke Nolen to ride. The four-year-old Lago Delight mare has won two of her five starts and Sheehan is expecting significant improvement on a recent luckless unplaced run at Moonee Valley (December 1).
“She got caught wide and didn’t handle the Valley, Caulfield should be ideal.”
Clayton kicking on
It was pleasing to see Mornington jockey Clayton Douglas rewarded for his hard work and dedication to his craft with a win aboard Streets of Avalon ($3.80) in the Edge Associates Temp Fence Hire 3YO Maiden Plate at Bairnsdale on Monday.
It was the former picnic and cross-country rider’s third winner since being licensed as a professional flat rider at the start of November. He kicked off at Wangaratta on Melbourne Cup day, winning on Nova Rocha for Kane Harris.
Douglas, 22, has worked hard on his weight and fitness, accepting rides as low as 55kg in recent weeks.  
He rides plenty of trackwork at Mornington, mainly for Logan McGill and Streets of Avalon’s trainer, Shane Nichols. Trainers are using him in jumpouts and trials, which is converting to race-riding opportunities.
Beginning as a 16-year-old on the picnic circuit in 2011, Douglas rode 37 winners in three seasons before chasing his dream to be a jumps jockey in 2015.
Thus far he has ridden eight winners over the obstacles (seven hurdles and one steeplechase) and seven winners in flat races restricted to jumps riders. Douglas is aiming to emulate Arron Lynch and Group 1 winner John Allen, who have successfully juggled flat and jumps commitments in recent seasons.