Amy Rees
Each year, Bathurst-based trainer Chris Frisby escapes the cold southern winter and takes a team of horses to compete north of the boarder.
Although Queensland’s annual Winter Carnival has been put on hold due to Covid-19, a few Group races are still being run and Frisby is looking to tackle them all.
His raid began on Saturday night, when three-year-old Jenden Strike took out the $50,000 Changeover South East Oaks, with son Anthony taking the reins.
Beginning from barrier three on the second line, the filly landed midfield before Frisby decided to make an early move.
With the speed on, Frisby created enough room to slot into the one-out-one-back position with just over a lap to go.
“I initially went around looking for the chair but when the speed went on there was enough room for me to get into the one-one,” Frisby said.
“After that we had a good trip and I decided to go back to the inside and use the sprint lane.”
Producing a quick sprint over the concluding stages, Jenden Strike was able to do enough to win my a narrow ‘neck’ margin.
“It was a fight to the finish with the horse who came second inside of me getting pretty close but she got the job done,” Frisby said.
This was Jenden Strike’s second Oaks win, with the filly taking out the Young S&C Club Young Oaks back in March.
With the Oaks being a race specifically for fillies, last week Jenden Strike only had to race against her own sex.
This Saturday however, the juvenile has secured a run in the Garrards South East Derby, where she will take on the boys.
“She’s come up with a pretty good draw and we’ll have options,” Frisby said.
“The favourite Governor Jujon will be hard to beat but with the right run she’ll be up there.”
Jenden Strike will begin from barrier three on Saturday night, with the race set to go at 7:40pm local time.