Perfect Stride has a perfect draw in a weak semi at Bendigo on Saturday night. PHOTO: Joel Gillan/Race Images.
Planets align for Perfect Stride who looks a good thing at Bendigo on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 14 August 2019
No odds will be too short for Perfect Stride when he contests his Breeders’ Crown event at Bendigo on Saturday night, drawn to lead in by far the weaker of the two semi-finals.
Uncannily, Lincoln Farms’ speedy two-year-old not only dodges the five most fancied runners who are all in the second semi an hour later, but from gate three looks a certain leader.
And that, along with natural improvement from his opening run in the Shepparton heat last week, should see driver Anthony Butt bringing him back to the winner’s circle.
“I’ve watched his tapes and from that draw he’ll be hard to beat for sure,” says Butt. “He has good gate speed and you’d think the two drawn inside him, who are lesser horses, will be looking to trail him.”
Butt was pleased with Perfect’s Stride Aussie opener on August 7 when he finished on for second to the Emma Stewart-trained pacemaker Pacifico Dream after enjoying a perfect one-one sit.
“It was a lovely run, a perfect pipe-opener. They didn’t go quick early but the last half was fast (55.6). I had to get out and going on the bend and when you’re out three wide and they’re running 27 on the fence, it’s hard to make ground.
“But he battled on well up the straight and all the boys think he’ll be much improved with the run.
“The trip over always takes a bit out of them and you have to let them get over the flight. We’ve found their second runs are always better than their first.”
Zeuss Bromac, pictured beating Perfect Stride at Auckland, has drawn the second row in a tough semi on Saturday night. PHOTO: Joel Gillan/Race Images.Perfect Stride, who is being stabled at Craig Demmler’s Bacchus Marsh stables, was under the care of Lincoln Farms No. 1 driver Zachary Butcher, who is campaigning his own horse Zeuss Bromac in the Breeders Crown. But next week head trainer Ray Green will fly to Australia to oversee his lead-up to the Melton final.
Perfect Stride’s $9 final quote is sure to trim up after Saturday night’s run at Bendigo, a 1000 metre track Butt rates as one of the best in Victoria.
“The straight is a bit short (at 185 metres) but they’ve put the length into the bends which are beautiful.”
Zeuss Bromac has a much harder test ahead of him in the second semi at 9.32pm NZ time but shouldn’t have much trouble qualifying for the final by finishing in the first six.
While he has drawn the inside of the second line, he follows out Mirragon, second favourite for the final, and should get a cosy trip throughout.
Zeuss Bromac finished a solid second in his heat to Emma Stewart’s final favourite Be Happy Mach, who was super impressive racing three wide to park at the bell and win by six metres.
While his overall time was two seconds slower than Perfect Stride’s heat, he sprinted home in 26.9.
Anthony Butt … Breeders Crown series needs tweaking.Numbers and quality down
Butt doesn’t believe Stewart’s powerful crop of two-year-olds is the sole reason for the quality of Breeders’ Crown competitors being down this year.
Many of the categories had only two heats this year, a result of the new conditions which have eliminated qualifying out of state, seeing fewer horses making long trips with no guarantees of even reaching the semi-finals.
“It hasn’t really worked and I wouldn’t be surprised to see changes made.
“In my mind it’s at the wrong time of the year too. It comes after the Vicbred and New South Wales bred series and the Jewels - there are so many more big money options now.
“It’s also been bitterly cold all week. Shepparton was brutal, Ballarat was zero.
“I hate seeing good horses having to race in those conditions. And there have been no crowds, all three nights have been miserable for everyone.
“Melton is usually a bit warmer but it’s still at night in mid-winter. They should make a real event of it in summer.”
Perfect Stride races at 8.33pm NZ time at Bendigo on Saturday night.
Zeuss Bromac races at 9.32pm NZ time at Bendigo on Saturday night.
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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.”
