No rush with comeback star

DESPITE the lure of Grand Circuit glory, comeback pacer Wolf Stride is not heading to Queensland.

Scoring at Club Menangle tonight in his second run from a spell, Wolf Stride gave every indication he is back to his best, but it’s too soon to return to the highest level according to owner Emilio Rosati.

In what is the fifth leg of the Grand Circuit, the $355,000 The Blacks A Fake is scheduled to be conducted at Albion Park next weekend.

“He has had two nice solid run this time in but I won’t be pushing him,” Rosati said. “If he’d had four or five runs I would say ‘go’, but not this soon in his campaign.

“I’ve got no doubt if he can stay sound he can get back to the Grand Circuit, but that’s likely to be in the Victoria Cup later in the year.

“For now he will race in the local open class races and build his fitness up.”

Trained and driven by Darren Binskin, Wolf Stride worked forward to find the lead from barrier seven as his stablemate, Alpine Stride, was eased to take a trail.

Breaking clear of the pack along the home straight, the son of Rock N Roll Heaven completed a 10-and-a-half metre victory from Jimmy Locke, with Atomic Red a half-neck away third.

Rating 1:53.7 over 2300 metres, Wolf Stride provided Rosati and Binskin with the second leg of a running double after Focus Stride captured the previous event.

Also driven by Binskin, Focus Stride led throughout in 1:53.7 over 1609 metres as Justa Little Bit and Lets Get Rockin filled the placings.