Perfect Stride has a head on Man Of Action at Pukekohe today with Sir Tiger a promising third.
Perfect Stride new top dog as Double Or Nothing gets the unkindest cut of all
By Barry Lichter • 10 November 2018
Chicago Bull’s brother Perfect Stride has shot to the top of the charts for the first Young Guns heat at Auckland in five weeks.
That’s because when the Bettor’s Delight colt led all the way to win his qualifying heat at Pukekohe today his No. 1 sparring mate was missing, probably feeling a little sorry for himself in a nearby paddock at Lincoln Farms.
Double Or Nothing was gelded this week, his raging hormones getting the better of him, and trainer Ray Green has given him two weeks off to get over the unkindest cut of all.
“It’s disappointing because I love keeping them colts - they are stronger - but his hormones started kicking in and he just wasn’t concentrating.
“He was looking to run off during his work, laying in on other horses, and just being a typical colt starting to think about other things, screaming out to the fillies.’’
Double Or Nothing shows his style.Green says Double Of Nothing, whose stable name is Louie, wasn’t holding his condition very well either, obviously carrying on like a teenage boy.
“Providing he comes through the gelding all right he’ll be jogging again in a couple of weeks and then he’ll be back into it.’’
Green anticipates Double Or Nothing won’t be ready in time to contest the first Young Guns heat on December 14 but will be back on top of his game come the second heat on New Year’s Eve.
Green expects Double Or Nothing will pick up condition now he’s been gelded, just like stablemate Man Of Action, who ran Perfect Stride to a head in today’s mile heat.
“He was getting impossible to handle as a colt, putting the boot in all the time, but he boomed afterwards and his manners are now impeccable.’’
Handled by Maurice McKendry today, Man Of Action was the complete professional, trailling all the way, before pulling out to challenge 400 metres out.
He was travelling well at the finish of the heat, run in a slick 2:04.9, the same time recorded by Double Or Nothing when he beat Perfect Stride in their last workout clash.
Just a length back in third came Lincoln Farms’ Sir Tiger, whose effort was perhaps the most encouraging of all, staying with his stablemates through closing sectionals of 59.4 and 28.3, sprinting up three wide at the 400m.
Driver Andrew Sharpe said the horse “felt super.”
“He obviously got tired late but it was the first time he’s been asked to go that speed and the first time against those other horses.’’
Green wasn’t surprised by the run, going on his recent trackwork when the big horse has shown marked improvement.
By Lincoln Farms’ own stallion Sir Lincoln, Sir Tiger is the third foal out of Tigers Delight, whose dam Tigerish won 15 races and $491,000 for Pam and Lindsay Turner.
Lincoln Farms raced the best of Tigerish’s progeny, Justa Tiger, who won nine races for Green.
But he still has a way to go to catch Perfect Stride who continues to impress with the way he goes about his work, driver Zachary Butcher not having to ask him for his best today.
All three Lincoln Farms’ horses qualified, pacing under the required time of 2:06.4.
Perfect Stride leads Man Of Action and Sir Tiger with a lap to run in their mile qualifying heat at Pukekohe today.
More news in Harness
Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Copy N Paste a ‘tradesman’ but look for bold debut run at Cambridge on Thursday night
Ray reveals his theory on why rank outsider Sammy Lincoln can play a hand in the derby
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
6.38pm
“I’m not sure where she’s at. It’s a big drop in class - there’s not much in there - but I don’t think she’ll morph into a star. She was hitting the sulky wheels last time and over-racing but that won’t happen again.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.36pm
“She paced roughly last time but we’ve done a bit of work on her since so she should be happier this time. It depends on the trip she gets (from four) but she’ll go an honest race. She’s no superstar, but she doesn’t miss many cheques.”
Race 8: Copy N Paste
8.45pm
“He’s dour and tradesman-like but he’s getting there. It’s his first time off the place, and the trip will improve him, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him competitive in what is a very weak field. Sometimes you don’t know what the Bettors Delights have got until they front up at the races but he trialled well and beat a couple who are against him here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.53pm
“He actually tried last time. He’s a nice horse but can change his mind quickly. Full blinds woke him up last time so we’ll see if he responds to them again this time.”
Race 3: Omaha Lincoln
5.46pm
“I think he’ll go a good race but it’s his first time at Alexandra Park so I don’t want to talk him up too much. He’s got enough ability to win a race like this, whether he’s ready to do it, we’ll find out. He can get a bit keen at times but I think he’s a chance if he does everything right.”
Race 5: Spiritual Bliss
6.54pm
“It was another great run last time after leading and she’s a good, tough mare who will go another good race. What trip she gets will determine where she finishes. From five, I’m picking she might go back this time but I’ll leave that up to the driver (Harrison Orange).”
Race 6: Sharpe Stride
7.24pm
“He’s a nice trotter, a big strong colt. He can get a bit hot but there’s nothing wrong with how he goes. He’s certainly not good enough to deal with these but he’s there for a run around.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.57pm
“He’s racing in career-best form and they were struggling for runners so I put him in. He gets a starting fee of $1750 so we won’t go home empty-handed. I’m really happy with him, he’s handling right-handed racing better these days. But he’s racing the bear cats so I’m not suggesting for a second he’ll give them a fright.”
Race 10: Colonel Lincoln
9.25pm
“I thought he went super last time. It was a vast improvement on the previous two starts and you’ve got to remember he was out for a long time. He’s coming to it now and improving all the time. I couldn’t label him but I’d be surprised if he’s not in the first three or four. He’s trained on well and gets a front row draw.”
Race 10: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.25pm
“He was given too much to do last time - up to park at the bell - and you can’t drive the ears off them every time. With a more conservative trip he’d be right in it.”
