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2.
Pedigree Boosts Aussie Hopes
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03/06/2002 |
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Australian trainer Murray Johnson is counting on Perfect Drift's pedigree as a big factor in favour of his gelding spoiling War Emblem’s Triple Crown bid in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes in New York.
"Distance is in his breeding," Johnson said of his third-place finisher in last month’s Kentucky Derby.
"He stays relaxed when he runs. He just has the mental attitude for the distance. It's very much in our favor."
War Emblem won the Derby and the Preakness Stakes and is striving to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
War Emblem went wire-to-wire in the Derby while Perfect Drift, who bypassed the Preakness, never seriously challenged for the lead.
"I hope things go differently at the Belmont," Johnson said. "A little more against War Emblem, and a little more for us. Horse racing is all about luck and his is about to run out."
Johnson, a native of Melbourne, began raising and racing horses in the US in 1982.
Perfect Drift, by Dynaformer is owned by Dr. William Reed of Kansas City. He came under Johnson's care last year as a two-year-old and landed his first major win in the G2 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park in Kentucky earlier this year.
Dynaformer was sired by 1972 English Derby winner Roberto, genes that Johnson believes point to his colt winning the Belmont.
"That's the bloodlines Perfect Drift's stamina traces back to,"
Johnson said. "Roberto performed well in distance races. That trait was definitely passed to Perfect Drift."
Johnson said Perfect Drift's dam Nice Gal, was a moderate stakes winner in several distance races.
Johnson called skipping the Preakness a "reward" for Perfect Drift's third-place finish in the Derby.
"I didn't want to put him through that and run him down before the Belmont," Johnson said.
Johnson prepares Perfect Drift at Trackside, a one-time harness track a few miles from Churchill Downs.
The track, which is used only for training, has about 500 horses with Johnson’s barn housing 20.
Perfect Drift will travel to New York on Wednesday on the same plane carrying War Emblem. The flight will be Perfect Drift's first travel by air.
"I just want him to run his best race," said Johnson. "If he does that, it's going to take a hell of a horse to beat him."
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