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.”
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
