Any other year Wolf Stride would not be $10 for the PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup.
The five-year-old bay has won half of his 24 assignments to date and looks set for a bright Grand Circuit future according to his driver and co-trainer Anthony Butt, but even he admits defeating Lochinvar Art tomorrow night will be a mammoth task.
“This year is a bit of a learning curve for him on the Grand Circuit racing against the big boys. I don’t expect him to win out of turn at this level, but he can win any race if it sets up right for him,” Butt said.
“I think he’ll have a nice campaign this year and then really turn out well for next year.”
Butt said the Del-Re National A.G. Hunter Cup at Tabcorp Park Melton on February 6 was Wolf Stride’s “main aim”, a race the champion reinsman knows a thing or two about winning, having held the cup aloft on seven prior occasions.
He has also won three Ballarat Pacing Cups, piloting Stunin Cullen in 2011, Mah Sish in 2013 and Smolda in 2017.
HAVE YOU FILLED OUT YOUR TROTSTARS TEAM? CLICK HERE TO JOIN
Never one to concede, Butt admitted things would have to go right for Wolf Stride to upset Australasia’s pin-up pacer Lochinvar Art tonight.
“Lochinvar Art in my opinion is a superstar. He’s got the all-round game and he’s just flying. He’s going to be awfully hard to beat. It’s certainly no disgrace running behind him,” he said.
“It won’t be easy from the draw (barrier nine), but we’re there to give it a good shot and it’s a perfect lead-in to the Hunter Cup two weeks’ later.”
Butt did issue one warning to punters ahead of tomorrow night, however.
“It’s Sonya’s birthday on Monday and she’s always had a bit of luck at this meeting. She used to look after Mah Sish when he won the cup and Line Up won last year, so you never know,” he said.
CLICK BELOW FOR THE SPECIAL PETstock BALLARAT PACING CUP PREVIEW SHOW:
