Force Strikes!

Having run so well at his first couple of outings it was only a matter of time until the talented Strike Force broke through - and he did just that, and in impressive fashion, at Geelong last Friday.

Jumping well from the outside gate and taking a sit behind the leaders, Strike Force was always travelling like the winner and he was able to race away from his rivals in the run home, saluting by a soft 2 3/4 lengths.

"He can be a nervous type," jockey Glen Boss reported, "but he was quite relaxed by the time I got to the barriers and he gave me a good ride. He was pretty fast out of the gates and he got into his rhythm quickly."

"I love the way he lowered himself late," he continued - "he was really strong over the final 100m."

Michael Moroney was also impressed - "it was a very good win," he said, "and we think that he is at least Saturday class."

"He is part of our really nice group of three-year-olds, our best in a while. They have been racing in great form and we just need a bit of luck with them - some good barriers for a start!"

A graduate of last year's Magic Millions Sale, Strike Force is a son of the multiple Gr.1 winner Lookin At Lucky who shuttled only once.

Bred by Frank Peisah, Strike Force is out of the Giant's Causeway mare Tapanappa whose other three foals to race are all winners.

A half-sister to the stakes winners Naden and Catango, Tapanappa - who was served last spring by Sebring - is a daughter of the Gr.3 winner Dancer's Choice.