Injury-prone star to continue rise

EXCITING, yet injury-prone, pacer Erupt Stride will attempt to continue his time consuming, but steady, rise through the grades this weekend.

A highly-promising two-year-old when prepared by Victorian horseman, Russell Jack, Erupt Stride won five of first nine starts before injury struck.

The son of Bettors Delight also had three placings to his credit.

Spending 21 months on the sidelines, Erupt Stride returned in the care of prominent New South Wales couple Joe and Mary Rando, with his campaign only lasting 16 starts.

The gelding notched three wins and eight placings during that period.

Injury once again forced Erupt Stride away from the racetrack for 10 months, during which time he was transferred to Scott Hewitt's stable.

"He did a pedal bone early in his career, then he has just had share of niggles which have kept him out a fair bit," Hewitt said. "Everything has been fine after three runs, so hopefully it stays that way.

"It's more maintaining him at this stage."

Scoring first-up at Club Menangle on December 13, Erupt Stride's two subsequent outings netted a third at Menangle and a win in Bathurst on Boxing Day.

Naturally pleased with the six-year-old's progress, Hewitt will head back to Club Menangle on Saturday night to tackle a New Year's Gift heat.

To the horseman's dismay, however, Erupt Stride has drawn the widest in a field of 10 over a mile!

"The draw certainly makes it tough, but it's not the end of the world," Hewitt said. "He's got awesome gate speed and can sort of lead from anywhere.

"Obviously I'd like to draw closer to the inside, so as we're not burning too hard, but I will use gate speed.

"This is a handier field than what he has been racing, so it will be a good guide to see where he is at.

"As far as the horse is concerned, he is in great shape, now it comes down to how the race is run.

"Hopefully he can at least qualify for the Final and we can wish for a better draw in that."