Champion reinsman Chris Lewis completed a treble at Gloucester Park on Saturday night when he brought the consistent Quick Stride home with a powerful three-wide burst from the rear to snatch victory in the 2536m Better Your Industry With TABtouch Pace.
Quick Stride, a $5.40 chance from barrier No. 3, raced in eighth place in the field of nine before Lewis urged him forward at the bell with the $1.90 favourite Rock Me Over setting the pace and being pressured strongly by Fifty Five Reborn.
Quick Stride sustained his spirited effort and got up in the final stride to defeat Rock Me Over by a half neck at a 1.58.5 rate. Quick Stride’s stablemate Carrera Mach raced in sixth position and went five wide on the home turn to finish third.
Trainer Ross Olivieri lauded Quick Stride’s consistency and said that a run of bad draws had not helped his cause. “But tonight he had the best draw that he’s had for yonks,” said Olivieri. “So, small field, good draw, and bingo, he got the job done.”
Quick Stride, bred and raced by Bob Fowler, has earned $114,328 from 12 wins and 12 placings from 59 starts. He is by Live Or Die and is the second foal out of the unraced Northern Luck mare Lucky Stride.