Perfect Stride goes to Ants after doing Ray proud in Breeders’ Crown Final
By Barry Lichter • 25 August 2019
Trainer Ray Green handed the reins to driver Anthony Butt in more ways then one when Perfect Stride contested last night’s A$300,000 Breeders’ Crown Two-year-Old Final at Melton, outside Melbourne.
The rich end-of-season feature was Perfect Stride’s swansong for Green and when he resumes as a three-year-old it will be from the Menangle stables of Butt and partner Sonya Smith.
So it was with some pride that Green watched Butt drive a perfect race on Perfect Stride to land third prize money of A$30,000, taking his bankroll for Lincoln Farms’ Pukekohe trainer to A$79,295 from just 11 starts.
“The little fella ran home well. But the other horse was just way too good,” said Green of Be Happy Mach who ran away to a seven metre win over Youaremy Sunshine.
“I was pretty happy with the run and it was nice that Zach (on Zeuss Bromac) let him up the inside when his horse was buggered.”
Zachary Butcher and Zeuss Bromac took the full brunt of Be Happy Mach’s arsenal when he attacked for the front and while Butcher eventually relented, it left the horse short on petrol in the run home, and he only battled into fourth.
Perfect Stride makes good ground up the inside but the bird has well and truly flown.Butt says he lost a little momentum on Perfect Stride when held up by Zeuss Bromac turning for home but it made little difference to the result.
“We were never going to beat the winner - I had to burn a bit off the gate too - so I was quite pleased with the run. And it was no disgrace running third to those two horses.
“It was also a tough night’s racing in very windy weather.”
Green says he expects Perfect Stride to do a great job with Butt and Smith.
“There are only three or four better than Perfect Stride here. He’s a pretty good horse and he’ll get better as he matures.
“He’s such a little gentleman.”
Butt says Perfect Stride reminds him of Lincoln Farms’ Make Way, who was an outstanding performer from his stable last season and is due back in work on Tuesday.
“They’re both beautifully mannered horses. He’s probably a bit more advanced than Make Way at the same stage.
“He’s not far from the very best and some of the good two-year-olds don’t improve and the others catch them up.
“There’s no reason he won’t get better and better. If he does half the job of his brother Chicago Bull I’ll be happy.”
Perfect Stride will now spell for six weeks at the Sydney farm of owner Emilio Rosati, who enjoyed dual success earlier in the night when Butt drove his two young trotters Liberty Stride and Ultimate Stride to victory, both trained by Oamaru’s Phil Williamson.
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Our runners this week
Saturday night at Albion Park
Captain Nemo.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
