Quick Stride has made an impressive return to the winners circle, taking out the Sky Racing-Bunbury Dash For Cash (2100m) at Bunbury last night, forming a key plank in a perfect night for trainer Justin Prentice.
Prentice took four runners to the Bunbury meeting, including two in one race, and came away with three winners and a second.
An expert drive by Gary Hall Jnr saw Quick Stride upstage his more fancied stablemate Sweet N Fast.
Corey Peterson was able to run to the lead with Sweet N Fast, who was three from three at Bunbury going into the $10,000 event, as Quick Stride settled three pairs back on the pegs.
Hall Jnr was able to get off the pegs coming to the home turn, but quickly switched back to the inside in the last 200m and went on to record a 2m win.
Our Major Mama came off a 20m handicap in the Sunwise Pace (2503m) standing start event and Hall Jnr elected to settle the mare at the rear of the field.
Race favourite The Lightning Strike set a steady tempo in front, but couldn’t hold off last year’s WA Oaks winner who stormed over the top to score by 2m.
Prentice and Hall Jnr also teamed up with talented three-year-old Know When To Run defeated his more seasoned rivals in taking out the Senior Citz Pace (1609m).
Prentice looks set to have a big say on Tuesday night’s Diamond Classic Heats (2130m) for the three-year-old fillies, with Majorpride and WA Oaks winner Has No Fear to line up in heat one and two respectively.
Majorpride will start from barrier four, while Has No Fear will start from barrier five.
Tim Walker