23 Mar 2022A return to Sandown brought out the best in Deepstrike, who is now unbeaten in two appearances on the course.
The homebred Tavistock four-year-old had come from the back of the field for an easy first victory over 1600 metres on the course last season and he produced a mirror performance on his latest visit to the Hillside layout.
Deepstrike settled at the back of the field before rider Mark Zahra angled wide into the straight and the gelding thundered home to win going away by 3.25l.
“He obviously likes the long straight here and I thought Mark rode him really well,” said Michael Kent Jnr, who trains in partnership with Mick Price.
“He doesn’t have early gate speed and they saved ground before getting to the outside and the horse showed a good turn of foot.
“We’ll just go through the grades with him - he’s a nice son of Tavistock out of a Zabeel mare.”
Deepstrike was purchased out of our Karaka draft by the trainers for $280,000 and is out of Obey, whose first foal Zabay was a multiple winner and stakes performer.
The dam is out of a half-sister to Group winners and sires Commands and Danewin and the family of the recent two-time Moonee Valley winner Snapper.