Trainer Theresa Bateup is optimistic a return home, a drop in class and the inside alley will be the perfect combination for Fleeting Stryke to breakthrough for her first win in more than a year on Thursday.
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The four-year-old mare has three wins from 23 starts, but has an impressive strike-rate of two wins in a second from three attempts at the 1400m trip around Kembla Grange.
Fleeting Stryke was also in a Benchmark 74 at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, but after drawing the outside barrier, will instead jump from the No.1 gate in a Benchmark 68 instead.
It’s three weeks after finishing fifth behind the Chris Waller-trained High Mist in a BM80 on a Heavy 9 at Randwick.
“We’re just hoping to get a bit of confidence back in her,” Bateup said.
“I was really happy with her first-up effort at Randwick, but she probably just didn’t appreciate what was a genuinely heavy track.
“She’s won before carrying a bit of weight, so I’m not worried about that at all, I think this is a nice race for her.”
Bateup will also have four-year-old mare Liffy, who has only been with the stable for six weeks, and last-start winner Taqueda running in a Class 2 (1600m) in the final race of the day.
“I’m still learning about her, but she’s a lovely horse, great to work with,” Bateup said.
“She’ll need the track to be on the better side of Soft and a bit of tempo up front.”
Meanwhile, premier trainer Gwenda Markwell will debut a trio of late-season two-year-olds in a 1000m Maiden on Thursday, in geldings Bisque, Chicansalade and Cos I’m Good.
