The stable enjoyed one of its best days on Friday – two runners, two winners – both enthusiastically cheered on.
Unfortunately with the timing not being quite right, Allison could not be in attendance for both but she was wildly cheering on She’ll Strkeya at Mornington whilst sitting in a Moonee Valley bound float with Alonzah!
Always travelling nicely for Linda Meech in a 1200m BM64 event, She’ll Strykeya sat fourth on the rails and was cruising coming to the turn. Saving ground staying on the fence turning, she was third straightening – showing plenty of heart to take a gap, hitting the lead at the 100m and drawing clear.
It was win number three for the consistent Stryker five-year-old who was having her first run since late June and the victory was not an unexpected one.
“Allison said she was ready to go and she was right,” Meech said, adding that “it was a terrific win.”
“She was quite soft to the line I thought. She travelled really nicely in the run and just needed that bit of luck. When we got that she did the rest for me, I didn’t need the whip.”
Whilst not big in stature, She’ll Strkeya is big in determination – and attitude!
“She is tiny but dangerous,” Allison joked, “she bit two of us last week!”
It is She’ll Strkeya’s first preparation for the stable and there looks to be plenty more in store for the bay who was bred by Lee & Carmel Powell out of the five times winning Dolphin Street mare La Piazza.
This spring producing a filly by the VRC Derby winner Polanski, La Piazza is a half-sister to the stakes placed metropolitan winners Two Sugars and Expresso Rose.
Fast forward to Moonee Valley where Allison arrived with that winning spring to her step! And she did not have to wait long to cheer again with the promising Alonzah too strong on pace in the second race.
Having her first run since mid-August, the imposing daughter of Lonhro stallion Zuberi showed good pace and was eye-balled by the horse on her outside, racing a touch keenly as a result.
But she still has plenty left in the tank, railing gamely into the straight and giving a nice kick with 3/4 length the winning margin.
“Allison was very confident,” said jockey Nikita Beriman who had also won the first race.
“She was so well presented, she is a solid little unit, so strong. And she was strong through the line too.”
Keen to “thank the owners,” Allison was happy to win a metropolitan race with the lightly raced four-year-old.
“They have been patient as little niggling problems have come up. They have been happy just to put her away, give her a bit more time… they are great to train for.”
Noting that Alonzah “has always shown plenty on the track,” and that “she’d had a couple of strong trials to have her ready to fire first up” – Allison was even more excited than usual with the striking black mare being the very first runner in the new stable colours – black with an aqua triskelion.
The same symbol as Allison’s brand (first used on Alonzah’s talented half-sister Andrassy), the triskelion is a triple spiral with Celtic origins… as has the name Sheehan.
A home-bred for the stable, Alonzah is the third foal and third winner for terrific mare Pride Of Ardrossan who has been served this spring by Darley’s Kuroshio whilst her multiple city winning daughter Andrassy has been confirmed in foal to Dream Ahead.
Both She’ll Strkeya and Alonzah are owned by loyal stable clients and we wish them all the best of luck with these promising girls in the future!