Owner Phil Cook gives Riverman Sam a well done pat after his hat-trick at Cambridge. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.
Champagne after Riverman Sam’s win caps special birthday night for 96-year-old Joan
By Barry Lichter • 24 June 2022
Riverman Sam’s hat-trick at Cambridge last night put the icing on the cake for 96-year-old Joan Grice.
Grice turned Cambridge’s mid-winter Christmas party into a birthday bash, celebrating with daughter Delia Cook, son-in-law Phil, and a few of her Cambridge friends.
And after their horse steamrolled home to score his third win on end for Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green, Grice switched from her Pinot Gris to champagne, delighting racegoers in the president’s room with a spontaneous speech.
Delia Cook described the night as hilarious as Grice, brandishing her “monster” $2 to win, $3 to place ticket on their horse, declared she fully intended to reinstate her TAB account.
Riverman Sam’s owner Phil Cook with Joan Grice as she cuts her 96th birthday cake yesterday.“I’m astonished at her memory. She can still rattle off her old account number which she hasn’t used for years.
“She doesn’t have money to burn but I text her when our horses are starting and she drives herself to the Cambridge TAB for her two over three.
“She’s always followed horse racing, she’s very good (looking up form) on the computer.
“As soon as we arrived last night she had her racebook open, working out her picks.”
Going out on a cold night to the races might be beyond many elderly but not this former school teacher who just two or three years ago took herself to Italy for her grand-daughter’s wedding.
“I’m wondering what she’ll do next. She been to Antarctica on her own, to Easter Island and even the Galapagos Islands.”
Grice may have been sporting a few plasters on her face when she had her birthday picture taken - “she had a fight with a concrete path and the concrete won” - but it didn’t stop her from enjoying her special night out.
“She loves going to the races and, while she couldn’t have got down to the winner’s circle to pat the horse in time, the win made for a very special night.”
Phil Cook said he was so pleased for Grice “who was over the moon” with the win, and for the horse, who has now won six of his 21 starts and $41,664.
“Ray’s got him going really well. I told Maurice McKendry when he came back that the win was as good as last week’s at Auckland.”
Riverman Sam (Maurice McKendry) steams past Bad Medicine and Wild Card for a one and a half length win. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.Considering Riverman Sam was taking on a higher grade and having his first start from a stand, it augurs well for the future.
But then given the family history, no-one should be surprised that Cook’s broodmare Bronze Lady has produced another good winner.
Cook bought the mare after she had left three foals, two of which were serious racehorses.
Bronze Seeker won 11 races in New Zealand and another 17 in Western Australia, retiring after 232 starts with a bankroll of $435,929.
And Bronze Over had 28 wins and 47 placings here and in the United States, earning $397,994.
“Bronze Over was a really good horse when John and Josh Dickie had him and I knew the dam was up for sale. She was in foal and I got her for “about six or seven thousand.”
That first foal, Art Work, won two races here and another two in Western Australia, “but had issues.”
Riverman Sam was the second foal Cook bred to Bronze Lady and he has another, Im Not The Maid, with Green, a yearling by A Rocknroll Dance.
More news in Harness
The dream’s alive but Nate tells why he’ll wait for ‘Harry’ before racing Eric again
Ray gives reformed Rascal his ‘most likely to succeed’ report from the pole on Friday night
Ray doesn’t pull any punches about Sugar Ray but punters weigh in nonetheless
Partners and pedigree made Johnny Lincoln’s win special - but where was everyone?
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.14pm
“She went pretty well last week considering they came a fast last half (56.3) and she sat parked from the 800. She’s back to the amateur grade, and should get a good run from the two draw, so hopefully we can get a bit of cash.”
Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
6.38pm
“He didn’t handle the right-handed bends at Auckland last week (galloping at the 300) so we’ll stick to Cambridge from now on. There’s a bit of gate speed in the race so Harry (Harrison Orange) should be able to sit in somewhere. I think he’s a good chance to run top three.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.59pm
“He’s racing very well. He would have run second last week (to American Me) had he not spooked at the winning post. These are tidy horses he’s racing against but he’s holding his own.”
Race 1: Kevin Kline
5.59pm
“He’ll go better back to a mobile start. He did well to finish so close last week after a slow start than having to do all the donkey work when parked for the last lap. Maurice really likes him because he just puts him into cruise control and he keeps going.”
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.58pm
“She’s not as good as the other filly but some lift their game when the money’s up so maybe she can pick up a cheque.”
Race 3: Lincoln’s Spice
6.58pm
“She looks a pretty decent chance of winning. She’s a real little tradesman, does nothing wrong, is easy to handle, is a nice drive, tries hard, is great gaited and has the potential to get stronger.”
Race 5: Tyson
7.51pm
“We found out he raced with a virus last time. The next morning snot was pouring out his nose and that’s why he didn’t finish it off as well as we expected. He only whacked away in the run home. With that gone, he should race better.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
7.51pm
“I think he’ll be competitive and he’s the best of ours in the race. He won well last week and has trained on well. He’s promising. I couldn’t go as far as to say he’s a classic colt yet but we’ll find out soon enough.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.51pm
“He’s doing my head in. He had no excuse for breaking last week. Maurice (McKendry) didn’t blame the wet track. He said he was gliding along, travelling beautifully, when for no apparent reason he put in big steps. I’ll put a hood on him this time to see if it’s a nervous issue.”
Race 8: The Rascal
9.23pm
“All going well, he should win what is a poor maiden field. He’s elevated himself from the transfer list and is going well now. He doesn’t have huge gate speed, so he may not lead but he should get a good trip from one. On paper, he’s our best chance of the night.”
