The lightly raced 3-year-old Harry Angel (IRE) filly Stretan Angel earned a second stakes success when defeating the favourite I Am Unstoppable in Saturday’s Group II World Pool Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
Ridden by Damian Lane for Phillip Stokes, Stretan Angel was made to keep her mind on the job in the closing stages to defeat the I Am Invincible colt I Am Unstoppable by a neck with the Extreme Choice colt Don Corleone a further one-and-a-quarter lengths back in third.
Second to Chilled on debut at Morphettville on April 1, Stretan Angel captured the Listed Dequetteville Stakes on the same track a fortnight later. Given a break, the daughter of Harry Angel (IRE) reappeared 22 weeks later when edged out by Shesallshenanigans in the Listed Cap D'Antibes Stakes at Flemington.
She advances her record to two wins and two seconds from four starts with earnings of $279,445.
“That was a surprise,” Phillip Stokes admitted.
“She is always out the back, and you’re constantly hoping for luck. But she jumped well today, and she took a lot out of her first-up run.
“We came here today knowing how much improvement she had to come and she has done a super job.
“Her coat has come on. We do it with all of our horses, she went up to our farm and spent the week up there and she is starting to bloom now.
“I still think she is only 85 per cent, so it is exciting going into her next run.
“That (the Coolmore Stakes) will be a bit harder, but she proved that she’s up to them today.”
A $64,000 purchase for Phillip Stokes/Rick Connolly Bloodstock from the Raheen Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale, Stretan Angel is the second winner from three to race for the Bernardini (USA) mare Sretan.
Purchased by Trevor Lobb for $35,000 out of the Godolphin draft at the 2017 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale, Sretan is a half-sister to multiple stakes-placed Alegria (Medaglia d'Oro), dam of Group III winner Alegron (Teofilo), who placed in the ATC Derby, VRC Derby, and Spring Champion Stakes.
Shinkansen Bloodstock shelled out $85,000 for Sretan’s Brutal colt consigned by Kirks Bridge Farm to the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
After missing in 2021, Sretan foaled a Wild Ruler colt on September 2..
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