Weights right for Hard Stride

A sharp drop in the weights has trainer Tony Sears hoping Hard Stride can score his second Queensland win at Doomben.

Hard Stride, who is owned by David Moodie’s Contract Racing syndicate, did his original racing in Melbourne where he won the 2014 Listed Regal Roller Stakes at Caulfield when trained by Matherw Ellerton and Simon Zahra.

The gelding has been in Sears’ Toowoomba stables for the past 18 months and has proved tough if unlucky, winning one race and being minor-placed five times in open handicaps.

At his last start Hard Stride was a nose second to Il Mio Destino carrying 57.kg at the Gold Coast.

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Sears said Hard Stride had paid for his consistency with big weights but the fact Sydney sprinter Straturbo was an acceptor for Saturday’s Open Handicap (1110m) had pushed the other weights down.

“He has been consistent and you can throw a few fourths in as well,” Sears said.

“It is almost a year to the day since he last won but after Matt McGillivray’s claim he will carry 54.5kg which is three kilos less than at the Gold Coast,” Sears said.

“He deserves another win and he does like Doomben.”