Pedigree, performance, physique – Stryker has it all.  And in the spring of 2011 Victorian breeders will have access to the well-related stallion who retires to picturesque Three Bridges Thoroughbreds near Maldon.

A stunning bay grandson of Danehill, Stryker – owned by Three Bridges with Richard and Donna Pegum of Range Park – really caught the eye as an Easter yearling, purchased by the Ingham family for $600,000.

Built very much in the mould of his outstanding sire Fastnet Rock, Stryker boasts a similar race record – competitive at two and all the better at three.

A Rosehill second at debut in late 2008, the Chris Waller trained entire was close up in Golden Slipper lead-ups – including a tough on-pace third in the G2 Pago Pago Stakes.

Progressing at three, Stryker was third in Denman’s G1 Golden Rose before an all the way victory in the Listed Heritage Stakes at Rosehill.

Back in great form as an autumn three-year-old, Stryker took on the older sprinters in the Gr.1 Galaxy first up, finishing a gallant third.

Travelling to Queensland, Stryker was an unlucky fourth in the G3 Gold Coast Guineas before racing away with the G3 BTC Classic – overcoming trouble in running and showing a determined will to win.

Luckless last spring, striking rain affected tracks prior to his retirement, Stryker boasts excellent stallion credentials – early form, a G3 and Listed win and two G1 placings in strong form races.

And he is a son of one of Australia’s most popular young stallions, the dual G1 winning sprinter Fastnet Rock serving over 700 mares during his last three years at Coolmore.

Highly regarded enough to shuttle to Ireland, Fastnet Rock – who boasts a very high winners-to-runners strike rate in excess of 61% – has proven a sire sensation with 14 early stakes winners including the G1 winners Wanted (Newmarket Handicap), Irish Lights (1000 Guineas) and Rock Classic (Australian Guineas).

Bred on the same Fastnet Rock/Woodman cross as the dual Group winner Rothesay and the same successful Danehill/Woodman cross as the G1 winners Miss Finland, Proviso and Alexander Tango, Stryker is – says Three Bridges’ Peter Liston – a well named horse.

“The Inghams got it right,” he said, “as he is a particularly striking horse. He has a beautiful shoulder, great girth, a long rein and fantastic hindquarters – he is just a superb type.”

And superbly bred too, Stryker hailing from one of Australia’s most prolific G1 families – his dual city winning dam Laetitia (also dam of the stakes placed metropolitan winners Seeking Attention and Puerto Banus) being a full sister to the tough Listed winner Conspectus.

Matriarch of this family is the wonderful mare Denise’s Joy, Stryker’s four times G1 winning fourth dam.  Her descendants continue to compete at the highest level – big race winners from this family including Euphoria, Bentley Biscuit, Joie Denise, Tuesday Joy, Sunday Joy, More Joyous, Miss Danehill, Joie de Grise, Arlington Road and successful young stallion Thorn Park whose son Jimmy Choux is New Zealand’s best three-year-old.

Peter Liston has been on the look-out for a stallion for some time now, determined to make just the right choice for their clients.  “We wanted a horse we really believed in and Stryker is that horse.  We are thrilled to be standing him.”

Noting that the Ingham family have retained shares in Stryker, Liston announced that the four-year-old will stand at an introductory fee of  $11,000 (incl gst).  He encourages breeders to arrange an inspection; for further information ring 0419 837 567.

Further information is available at:  www.threebridges.com.au.