Former Melbourne sprinter Hard Stride appears to have regained his confidence as he aims to win his first Queensland race at Doomben.
Hard Stride is one of several horses Toowoomba trainer Tony Sears prepares for leading Victorian owner David Moodie’s Contract Racing Syndicate.
He has had considerable success with another of their runners, Pillar of Creation.
Formerly trained by Matthew Ellerton and Simon Zahra, Hard Stride won four races in Victoria including the 2014 Listed Regal Roller Stakes.
The gelding showed his class by also being placed behind subsequent Group One winners Flamberge and The Quarterback.
However, Hard Stride hasn’t won since taking a race at Flemington in February last year and Moodie decided to give him a try in Queensland.
Hard Stride wasn’t at his best in his first two Queensland starts when unplaced in the Listed Weetwood Handicap and Listed Bribie Handicap and was sent for a spell.
“David sent me Hard Stride for the Brisbane winter and he has elected to leave him here,” Sears said.
“Hard Stride was probably looking for a spell when he got here and he has had a good break.”
Hard Stride has had two jump-outs in preparation for his return in the Buy A Bale Open (1050m) at Doomben on Saturday.
“He went OK in both jump-outs. Apparently he had a barrier accident about a year ago when he split his head. It appears he may have lost a bit of confidence after that,” Sears said.
“But he looked to be back on track after the jump-outs so here’s hoping he has his confidence back.”
Apprentice Emma Ljung will claim three kilos on Hard Stride, getting him into the race half a kilo under the limit.
“From barrier three and with a light weight he looks well placed on Saturday and provided he is back near his old form I would expect him to go well,” Sears said.
Toowoomba-based Lung is hoping to concentrate on Brisbane racing o take advantage of her 3kg claim.
She rode Jennifer Juniper to win for her boss John Dann’s at Doomben on Wednesday when she had to overcome the outside barrier.
“Emma is a very good jockey and I think you will find she will be the leading apprentice here soon,” Dann said.
