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A summer trip to Queensland will be in the offing for talented gelding Striking Victory when he lines up in Saturday's Merry Christmas AJC Members Hcp (1400m) at Warwick Farm.
Trainer Gerald Ryan has pencilled in next month's $200,000 Bernborough Hcp (1615m) at Doomben as a possible target and said he was buoyed by the six-year-old's closing first-up sixth to Radetzky March at Rosehill earlier this month.
"Striking Victory might go up for the Bernborough," Ryan said.
"His first-up run was good. It was a typical fresh run for him, he got back and worked home nicely and he's made good improvement from it.
"Last preparation he ran fifth first-up then was just beaten by Valedictum at his next start."
A winner up to 1900m, Striking Victory has a handy second-up record of a win and two placings from four starts.
He has drawn ideally in barrier one on Saturday and with the two-kilo claim of apprentice Danny Langridge gets in nicely at the weights with 55.5kg.
Ryan also has former Hong Kong galloper Xlerate in the race, although he has also accepted for Monday's Bacardi Breezer Hcp (1600m) at Randwick.
A son of Zabeel, Xlerate made his Australian debut for Ryan in March and showed plenty of staying promise with placings in the Wagga Gold Cup won by Natural Blitz and the WJ McKell Cup won by Dancing Daggers.
He's had the benefit of two recent barrier trials and has come back mentally tougher this campaign according to the trainer.
"He's a lot better in his mind this preparation and his two trials have been good," Ryan said.
"He's just a lovely horse to have around the place."
Jeff Penza has been booked to partner Xlerate on Saturday and will also ride the Barbara Joseph-trained Standabove in the Santa's On His Way Hcp (1200m).
Joseph, who will celebrate her 60th birthday on Boxing Day, was rapt with the gelding's last-start third to Geigeron at Rosehill and expects him to enjoy a much better run on Saturday from barrier three.
"He ran a great race to get third last start. He was wide the whole way with no cover and still battled on," Joseph said.
© 2010 Published 22/12/05
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