We salute Perfect Stride as Green team troops parade for mile night at Auckland

Breeders Crown-bound Perfect Stride spearheads a combatitive platoon of Lincoln Farms’ pacers for mile night at Auckland on Friday.

Perfect Stride tackles the fifth race in his final lead-up to the rich age group series in Victoria and while he will be opposed by Lincoln Farms’ newest southern recruit Bettor My Dreamz, trainer Ray Green thinks he holds the edge.

“With the speed he’s got, he’s the better of the pair at this stage. The mile will really suit him and he’ll be better for his last start win.”

That win showcased the two-year-old’s rare brand of speed when he looped the field five wide round the home turn and put the race to bed in a few strides for driver Zachary Butcher.

It also sealed the colt’s trip to Melbourne where he will continue his career after the Breeders Crown which culminates in the final at Melton on August 24.

Bettor My Dreamz has had two workouts to prepare for his northern debut.Three-year-old Bettor My Dreamz has had two workouts since owner Merv Butterworth sent him north to Pukekohe, winning the first then running fourth, albeit after being wiped out on the home bend.

“He’ll go a good race - he trained quite well on Tuesday morning - but he’ll need a run or two before we see the best of him.”

Bettor My Dreamz, winner of two of his only four starts when trained by Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen, had his first race for seven months at Invercargill on June 8, well short on fitness when running fourth.

But he is a speedy customer, suited to mile racing, claiming the fourth fastest winning time of all three-year-old colts and geldings this season. His winning mile rate of 1:55.6 over 1980 metres at Addington has been bettered only by Ultimate Sniper, Major Trojan and Bettorstartdreaming.

Lincoln Farms’ other three chances Double Or Nothing (race one), The Bull Pen (race six) and Sir Tiger (race eight) have all been gifted winning mile draws, setting them up for likely favouritism.

“On paper it looks good for us,” says Green. “A couple of them might be a bit short (on fitness), as they had an easy week, but the shorter distance negates that somewhat.”

Double Or Nothing finishes best to win his workout at Pukekohe on July 13.Double Or Nothing is one who will be suited by the short trip, with his electric early speed and ability to race on the pace.

In gate three he has No. 1 danger and fellow Sweet Lou juvenile Mighty Looee inside him but Double Or Nothing brings an unblemished formline and fine last start second to talented stablemate Copy That.

Yet to finish further back than fourth in eight starts, and placed five times, Double Or Nothing comes into the race fresh - he last raced on June 7 - but was primed with a tidy workout win on July 13.

Bull best with races spaced

Being fresher will only benefit The Bull Pen, who faces higher rated horses but gets a perfect two draw.

Green believes punters should overlook The Bull Pen’s seemingly flat last start sixth - his third run in as many weeks - and rate him on his previous excellent third to The Devils Own and Juice Brogden (a rival again) in the Winter Cup.

“We’ve got a theory that he performs better if we don’t dig him up week after week.

“He’ll be very competitive in that race. He’s raced well against nicer horses before.”

Sir Tiger … rewarded with this easy win at Cambridge. PHOTO: Phil Williams/Fokus Harness Photography.Green says you can bank on another honest race from Sir Tiger who will get every chance from the pole in the eighth race.

It’s seven weeks since Sir Tiger broke through for a well deserved win at Cambridge, which followed his Sire Stakes Final brutalising by One Change in a 1:53.4 mile rate at Addington, the only glitch in Sir Tiger’s form all season.

The Sir Lincoln two-year-old limbered up for Friday when second at the Pukekohe workouts last Saturday, nailed late by Barry Purdon’s useful three-year-old Sole Ambition.

“He seems to be coming to it and he’ll be competitive.”