Perfect Stride breaks winning drought

The Shane Sanderson trained pacer Perfect Stride made a long awaited return to the harness racing winner’s stall in the Young Pedro Free For All at Melton. 

Perfect Stride enjoyed a cosy run behind the leader Tango Tara who was kept busy in the lead by Hellavu as he took the field through a slick 55.8 first half of the last mile. 

There was no letting up as Tango Tara threw a 27.7 back straight quarter at his rivals however Perfect Stride ($5) peeled off his back on straightening and was able to reel in the leader on the post scoring by half a neck in a mile rate of 1:50.4. 

Perfect Stride has taken out the Allied Express Young Pedro Free For All for father-son duo, Ryan and Shane Sanderson. pic.twitter.com/p5UsTtDITm

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) May 11, 2024

It was the seven-year- old’s first win since saluting at Meneangle in February last year. 

Sanderson admitted he had a slight concern at the brutal speed of the race. 

“I was a little worried about the tempo of the race but he did it easy enough, I was just hoping that he had that sprint in him at the end,” Sanderson said. 

Sanderson said the winner’s form was better than it appeared. 

“We’ve been having bad draws but he’s still been going well, during the run I was pretty happy with the run he was getting and the way the race was panning out,” he said.  

“I was just hoping that he would attack the line like he has been lately and he did.” 

Sanderson is about to embark on a trip of a lifetime to Sweden for the Elitlopp later this month. 

“I met a trainer Jorgen Westholm in France when I was there and he just invited me to go over and have a look and he will show me around,” he said. 

“I always wanted to go to the Elitlopp and to be amongst it around a couple of trainers is a great opportunity.” 

For complete race results, click here.

by John Dunne, for Harnesslink