Perfect Stride is only kidding as All Yours gets up on his inner at Alexandra Park tonight. PHOTO: Joel Gillan/Race Images.
Ray has Perfect Stride perfectly primed for the Breeders Crown - but he’s sad to see him go
By Barry Lichter • 26 July 2019
“He’s a beautiful horse and I’m sorry to be losing him.”
It was with both pride and regret that Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green greeted Perfect Stride and driver Zachary Butcher after their all-the-way win at Alexandra Park tonight.
The electric two-year-old, whose winning time of 1:56.1 was bettered only by Gladamare (1.55.1) on mile night, will be loaded onto a flight to Melbourne on Wednesday - and won’t be coming home.
Green can take some comfort from the fact he will still be the official trainer when Perfect Stride tackles the Breeders’ Crown series, starting at Shepparton on August 7.
But after the final at Melton on August 24, the little colt will continue his career in Australia for owner Emilio Rosati.
Perfect Stride will be joined on the flight by Lincoln Farms’ stablemate Zeuss Bromac, who will also tackle the Breeders Crown for Butcher and new owners.
The pair will initially enter the Bacchus Marsh stable of Craig Demmler, 50km outside Melbourne, and with Butcher committed to his own horse, the Perfect Stride drive will go to top Melton horseman Anthony Butt.
Zachary Butcher brings Perfect Stride back to scale after his all-the-way win. PHOTO: Joel Gillan/Race Images.Green predicts Perfect Stride will do a great job in Australia.
“Those Aussies will be getting windburn,” he joked.
“Running in front like tonight isn’t really his go. He’s much more powerful coming off the pace as he’s got a lot of speed and acceleration.
“He’s a lovely horse and can only get better. It’s good to see one who cost a fair price justifying the money.”
A younger brother of pin-up West Australian pacer Chicago Bull, the Bettor’s Delight colt cost Rosati $190,000 as a yearling in Christchurch, bought on the recommendation of Green.
Tonight’s win was the third of his freshman season and satisfied Green that he would be leaving his Pukekohe stable in tip top order.
While it might have appeared that Perfect Stride was all out to hold All Yours and Mattie White at the line, his winning margin only half a neck, Butcher revealed the colt was just up to his old trick of knocking off once the job was done.
“He always does that when he’s front,” Butcher said.
Greeting Perfect Stride are, from left, Woodlands Stud race sponsor Andrew Grierson, trainer Ray Green and Lincoln Farms’ business manager Ian Middleton. PHOTO: Joel Gillan/Race Images.“He was flicking his ears and it never felt like the other horse would get me. And when it did get close, mine took off again.”
Without being put under too much pressure, Perfect Stride sizzled over his last 800 metres in 56.7 and 400 in 27.3.
Green was happy enough with the run for seventh in the same race by Better My Dreamz who was having his first run in the north for owner Merv Butterworth.
“He just lacks fitness,” said Green. “He needed that run and will probably need another.”
The three-year-old also got down on his off hind bumper and got in on one rein, according to driver Andre Poutama.
Said Green: “He’d never raced this way round before and we’ll need to gear him up a bit better next time. He needs a pole.”
More news in Harness
Brace for Ray and Lincoln Farms at Cambridge but Colonel’s placing just as thrilling
Ray: Preferential draw for top fillies makes it tough for everyone else in Golden Gait series
Patient owners hoping high-priced Colonel can salute at Cambridge on Thursday night
Friday’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup all about the standing start manners of Aussie raider
Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”
