PAST THE POST with John Elsegood STRIKING GURU FINALLY STRIKES A CITY WIN



PAST THE POST with John Elsegood
 
STRIKING GURU FINALLY STRIKES A CITY WIN

Just as there is great rejoicing in heaven for one sinner saved, so too was there great joy at Ascot on Saturday February 18 when Striking Guru (Ryan Hill) finally cracked his first city win-and a career fourth-in the Budget Truck Rental Handicap (1800m).

With no Disco Bling in the race, 'Guru's' victory ended a frustrating run of places, two recently behind that smart performer and particularly on January 21 when 'Guru' looked a certainty half way down the straight only to be cut down emphatically in the concluding stages.

This has not been a recent phenomenon either. In a career of 34 starts Striking Guru has been placed in exactly half of those races.

Apart from Bruce Saxild and his Oz Racing Group smiling, so too was trainer Neville Parnham who had the quinella in the race with Dimitrius (Steven Parnham), a length behind the winner.

The move to put a 2kg claiming apprentice, Ryan Hill, on Striking Guru was an astute one for two reasons. First, as the trainer said the 5yo gelding "does not like carrying weight and the 1800m is about as far as he wants to go," and also Hill's ride was copybook and perhaps only bettered on the day by Shaun Meeres, on Seth's Blessed, the second leg of that jockey's double.

Hill had only a couple behind him but 'Guru' was travelling beautifully for him in the one-wide lane and the rider admitted, post-race, that he was "not worried about any of those in front of me but I was just worried what was coming from behind." In the end the answer to that concern was nothing.