When lightly raced harness racing three-year-old pacer Streitkid debuted with an all-the-way victory in Hobart two weeks ago his owners Barry Cooper and Jamie Cockshutt were elated.
The gelding had to be bottle fed at birth after the mother rejected him and there were other issues so just to see him make it to the races and win first-up was all they could have asked.
But last Saturday night at the same venue and in a heat of the Australian Driving Championship, Streitkid did a whole lot more than just mirror his debut performance.
He was again able to make full use of the pole position and lead but it was the way he toughed it out when seriously challenged by the highly promising Flying Wingard that had the hairs on the neck of his owners standing to attention.
Streitkid enjoyed a comfortable lead but he had Flying Wingard for company over the final 600 metres and when the going got tough 150m from home Streitkid dug deep to stave off the determined challenge.
South Australian driver Wayne Hill piloted the gelding to victory and after the race he described the gelded son of American Ideal as "gutsy".
"That was one tough effort for horse only having his second start. He was in for the fight and refused to lay down."
Streitkid is from the mare Ima Blissfull Hall that was owned and raced by Cooper and Cockshutt.
The mare showed a lot as a young horse but injury prevented her from realising her potential.
Cockshutt said the Streitkid, prepared by Paul Hill, will be aimed at the 3YO Globe Derby Stakes in May.
Peter Staples