Strathmore to make Australian debut

Former Hong Kong sprinter Strathmore has had to come a long way to make his Australian debut.

The gelding, by Fastnet Rock out of Group One performer Our Egyptian Raine, was foaled in Australia and exported to Hong Kong to race.

He won his debut and another four races from 29 starts in Hong Kong and also finished third in the 2017 Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize won by Chautauqua.

Because of Australian quarantine protocols, he has had to spend six months in New Zealand before his first start for trainer Chris Waller in Saturday’s Rosehill Bowling Club Sprint (1100m) at Rosehill.

Waller says he is still carrying some condition and he expects him to improve with racing.

“He is coming back from Hong Kong to race and he has performed creditably up in Hong Kong for many seasons,” Waller said.

“He has been in New Zealand for a three month spell and he has done three months’ work since that spell so he has had a good break from racing and a complete freshen-up.

“He is carrying quite a bit of extra condition so whatever he does tomorrow he will improve on but he certainly has a bit of class on his side.”

Strathmore finished fourth in an 820m-barrier trial at Te Teko on September 25.

He will carry 59kg and be ridden by Tommy Berry who rode Chautauqua to his famous last-to-first win in Hong Kong.