Stratford (21) has two horses in work at his Aylesbury property. He is also employed by Burnham trainer Mark Jones.
Stratford returned to NZ in November after 18 months working for Victorian trainer, Dean Braun.
Stratford shares the ownership of Diedre's Flash with his mother, Jan Williams, Laura Williams, Lindsay Reeve and Tracey McQuillan. They leased the trotter with a right of purchase three months ago from Keith and Robyn Gibson after replying to an advertisement in the NZ Harness Weekly.
Diedre's Flash had won a $70,000 Sales series race at Addington as a 2yr-old in 2009 when trained by Phil Williamson. The S J's Photo gelding had further wins when trained by Tony Herlihy and Craig Edmonds.
"I had liked the horse since he won the sale series race and the others wanted a horse to race," Stratford said.
Wot The Owl returned to Invercargill trainer Andrew Armour and the Sue Ping syndicate after being claimed for $3500 last night. He recorded his 10th win and his fifth from eight starts at Forbury Park.
• Wot The Owl had won five races for Armour and the syndicate before he was claimed for $3500 on August 15.
• Sunny Two Shoes won first up last night for Christchurch breeder Dave McDonald and trainer Gavin Smith. The 4yr-old mare who led all the way is a half-sister by Live Or Die to Crystal Star, winner of 11 races including the 2010 Four-Year-Old Championship at Forbury Park.
Nathan Williamson completed a double-double for the week with Major Deed and Franco Seville. He had trained and driven the pair to win at Gore on Sunday.
• Doni Prastiyou has his first race ride today at Ashburton aboard Never Die.
Prastiyou (20) rode Never Die to win a trial at Rangiora on July 24 for trainers Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong. Never Die, who has not raced since March, won a maiden race at Waikouaiti and finished fourth in the Gore Guineas last season.
Prastiyou is apprenticed to Paul Richards at Wingatui.
Jay Misbah is back riding Flying Alibi in the open metric mile today. Flying Alibi, who overcame a check to finish sixth behind I Am Sam at the Grand National meeting at his last start, will wear blinkers.
Misbah has ridden Flying Alibi in five of his six wins including the 2011 Winter Cup Trial.
