Goldfields: Stryker's win a welcome relief
By Ben Sporle, February 20, 2019 - 6:10 AM

Local six-year-old Welcome Stryker is making a habit of winning on Bendigo’s Marong Cup day and he did it again last Saturday, to the cheers of favourite backers.
The Danny Curran-trained gelding was backed from $3.60 to start at $2.90 and proved too good for his 12 rivals in the $22,000 Wild Plumbing 0-58 Handicap (1600m).
The son of Stryker had won the same race 12 months earlier with Cory Parish aboard, this time getting the benefit of a patient Harry Coffey ride. 
Settling three deep with cover, the six-year-old strode into the race with purpose to take the lead on the corner and fight on a for half-length victory.
Welcome Stryker had been beaten in eight previous starts this campaign but they included four placings in Melbourne and a run in the $200,000 Country Cup Final at Flemington on Oaks day.
“He kept running places in town and all the horses around him were winning races — the win was more of a relief than anything,” Curran reported post-race.
Now a three-time winner on his home circuit, Welcome Stryker has won at distances ranging from 1600 metres to 2400 metres.
“Three of his four career wins have been at the mile,” Curran said. “It takes him a little while to recover from races so I like to give him three weeks between runs.”
The $10,000 yearling purchase took his earnings to $136,795 from 41 starts. 
Welcome Stryker, from the 10-time winner Hello Hello, was purchased on the same day Curran bought ill-fated speedster The Big Dance.
The win was particularly pleasing for one of his part-owners, Len Rodda, a life member of the Marong Racing Club.
Spirit soars
Local trainer Andrew Sawden finished Marong Cup Day on the right note when Drysdale Spirit took out the final event. 
Apprentice Lewis German produced a textbook box-seat ride aboard the five-year-old from barrier two.
Stablemate and half-brother Big Buddie loomed to win at the 200 metres before finishing fourth. 
Big Buddie ($5.50) was the more fancied of the duo, with Drysdale Spirit saluting at odds of $13. Both horses are out of the Racer’s Edge mare Belle of Drysdale.
Drysdale Spirit had finished last at his previous two outings but a gear problem forced him out of the race in the second of those. 
Saturday’s win was the fourth of his career and took his earnings to $78,088 from 36 starts.
The win capped a good weekend for Sawden after stable star Huge Action finished second in the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge at The Valley on Friday night.
Anemoi too good
Saturday’s feature Bendigo Ford Marong Cup went home with Geelong trainer Danielle Loos, who trained $2.40 favourite Anemoi to a comfortable victory.
Anemoi had scored two starts previously at his home track before a strong-closing effort at The Valley behind the progressive Mosh Music. 
Anemoi was ridden at Bendigo by Billy Egan.

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