Prominent harness racing owners Barry Cooper and Jamie Cockshutt have enjoyed plenty of success over the years but in Hobart on Sunday night they celebrated a win that probably meant more to them emotionally than most.
Streitkid utilised the pole position draw and with ace reinsman Ricky Duggan in the sulky the gelded son of American Ideal led and gave his rivals a pacing lesson.
The three-year-old's dam is Ima Blissful Belle, that was arguably one of the best pacers owned by Cockshutt and Cooper, went amiss early in her career which sent her to an early stud career.
"We tried to get the mare in foal five times and failed and I was about to give up but my business partner Barry Cooper convinced me to give the mare one more try and this horse is the result," Cockshutt said.
"The mare foaled down at Sue Streit's Elderslie Horse Care property (at Elderslie just north of Hobart) and it was Sue who had to bottle feed this horse when the mare rejected him so it was Sue's late night vigils that helped keep him alive.
"We will be forever grateful to Sue (Streit) so we decided to try and have her surname in the colt's name.
"We originally tried to secure Streitwise but that was rejected but we got Streitkid."
Streitkid ($3 into $2.80) began brilliantly to lead while the favourite Kaliska Leis ($2.60) face the breeze with the other well-backed conveyance Flying Wingard ($5) was taken back to last from an outside front-row draw.
Duggan ensured a reasonable tempo but with his charge able to sneak a couple of cheap quarters the gelding had plenty in reserve when called on for a sprint to the line.
Streitkid gave his rivals the slip at the top of the home straight and he went on to win by over 10 metres from Hot Shot Bonnie with Flying Wingard flashing home from last to grab third.
Peter Staples