Little Stryker charges to late victory
RENEE Schluenz’s “pocket rocket” has delivered the Innisfail trainer her career best win.
Schluenz, who has just three horses in work, was over the moon on Saturday afternoon in the Cannon Park mounting yard after securing her first ever victory around carnival time.
Little Stryker, a five-yearold mare, scored two emphatic wins in her first two starts in the Far North late last year but has gone five starts without recording one this year.
With a few strides left in the Class 2 Handicap (1250m), Little Stryker looked on the way to going six races without greeting the judges with The Cheetah, trained by Olivia Cairns, running on strongly.
That was before leading Tablelands rider Wanderson D’Avila swooped on the outside to get Little Stryker’s nose down on the line.
Little Stryker, by Stryker out of Messalina, had been racing over the sprint trips of late but appreciated the step up in distance and could possibly be run over more ground if her finish was anything to go by.
“That was an awesome win,” Schluenz said. “That is my first Cairns Carnival winner. She has been around the mark her last few starts but we have been trying to find her best distance and she found that today. She is my little pocket rocket.”
Earlier, the honours were shared as Janel Ryan, Roy Chillemi and Ray Moller all trained winners on the first day of the 2018 carnival.