Sriker Light Will Get Better: Bravo
19 April, 2018
Greyhound
East coast trainer Brett Bravo has sounded an ominous warning to his rivals ahead of Saturday night’s Sky Racing-Perth Cup (520m), Striker Light will get better.
The daughter of Kc And All was too classy for her rivals last Saturday night as a short price favourite, despite being a little slowly away from the boxes.
Bravo said the bitch would be better for having started at Cannington last weekend.
“She didn’t begin brilliantly, but it was her first look at the track,” he said.
“Her first sectional wasn’t enormous, but she got around the first turn nicely and worked into the race.”
Striker Light produced the second quickest sectional of the race, well behind Slingshot Gypsy, but dug deep over the closing stages to run down the Robert Britton-trained chaser.
Bravo has also changed up the travel schedule for Stryker Light for the Perth Cup, deciding against sending her home after her run in the Heats.
“I thought the 10 hours it takes to get her in a cradle then get on the plane and get back home might be a bit too much,” he said.
“So we decided to stay here this week and give her every chance.”
Striker Light fared well at the box draw earlier in the week, where she was allocated box two, inside her main rivals Hecton Bale, Up Hill Jill and West On Augie, who have drawn three, four and eight respectively.
Prior to the draw, Bravo said he wanted to draw inside Up Hill Jill, who defeated Striker Light in the Golden Easter Egg at Wentworth Park last month.
This week is the 11th time Striker Light has competed at Group 1 level, and Bravo said this would be one of the toughest given the strength of the opposition.
“Her whole career she has taken on the best there is,” he said.
“At her fifth or sixth race start she started in a Group 1 and she hasn’t stopped since.
“It would be a great race to win.”
Despite the box draw appearing to favour Striker Light, TABtouch has kept Up Hill Jill as the $3.40 favourite, with rising star West On Augie $3.70 and Striker Light $3.70.
The Perth Cup jumps at 9.15 on Saturday night.
Tim Walker