Pole goes on Louie LeBeau on Thursday night and that could make him one of Green’s heroes
By Barry Lichter • 17 August 2021
MEETING CANCELLED
A crucial gear change could be all unlucky debutant Louie LeBeau needs to find the winners’ circle at Alexandra Park on Thursday night.
The American Ideal colt went straight into the black book after he ran seventh on August 5, blocked for a run all the way down the home straight and finishing hard on the backs of the placegetters.
When driver Andrew Drake was questioned by stewards afterwards he explained how his attempts to ease Louie LeBeau out of the one-one turning for home were thwarted by the horse getting his head round and locking on one rein.
Louie LeBeau (Andrew Drake) is untested, on the back of runner-up Supa Dupa Luca, unable to clear traffic all the way down the home stretch with Tonite’s Delight (Zachary Butcher) outside him.Once Tonite’s Delight and Zachary Butcher came round Drake, he was hemmed in with nowhere to go and Louie LeBeau went to the line untested just 2.2 lengths from the winner Riverboy Ben, right in behind runner-up Supa Dupa Luca.
Drake, the leading junior at Alexandra Park last season, told stewards trainer Ray Green would be making a gear change for the horse’s next start and, after working well in a boring pole since, Louie LeBeau will race with it on Thursday.
“Andrew thought that if he’d got out, he’d have been the one to beat,” Green said. “I was really happy with his run and he’s trained on well since.
“He wouldn’t have to improve much to win - he just needs the trip and hopefully he’ll get it from four.”
Green describes the two-year-old, named after the diminutive corporal in the ’60s TV show Hogan’s Heroes, as a lovely pacer and says he was pleased with how well he handled his first experience at the races.
“He’s quite a laid back colt. He can get a little hot sometimes but he does most things right and that will hold him in good stead. He’s a definite chance.”
Stablemate Arden’s Horizon will need a little luck from two on the second row in the following race but went well enough when resuming to suggest he can go close again.
Drawn on the outside of the gate in his first race for two months, Arden’s Horizon was taken back by driver David Butcher before sweeping round to park at the bell.
Considering the two-year-old was taking on older horses, he did well to fight on and finish just two necks from the winner Cowgirls N Lace.
“He ran on quite well,” Green said. “He just needed to let go in the last 50 metres but it was a tough run. He’s not a bad horse, but no champion.
“He’ll need a bit of luck but, you never know, he could end up with a good trip. The horse he’s following out (Arden Velocity) is one of the better form horses in the race so he should be in the front half of the field.”
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.40pm
“She’s going as good as she can. She’s got a bit of speed but isn’t that strong. But she should get a nice trip here and be right in the frame. She’ll win one soon.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.40pm
“She’s a big filly who has taken time to mature but she has plenty of ability. She’s a good pacer and I expect her to improve on her resuming run and go well.”
Race 1: Lincoln Dealer
5.40pm
“He’s a bit of a handful, too keen for his own good sometimes, so I’ll be happy to see him just get round and do most things right. He’s no superstar but he’s coming to it slowly but surely. We’re throwing him in the deep end here and he has a terrible draw but we have to start somewhere.”
Race 4: Lincoln Maree
7.04pm
“She’s as tough as old boots and tries like hell and you can’t ask for much more than that. She just lacks a bit of speed but has a good attitude. She usually finds one or two better than her but will make them work for it anyway.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.56pm
“He’ll be improved for the last run, has trialled and is working well, and has a better draw (the ace) this time. You just have to be a bit wary because he’s let us down a couple of times.”
Race 3: Angelic Copy
5.56pm
“She had a tie-up issue but seems much better now. It’s her first run for a while so she’ll definitely need the run. I’m just hoping she gets around all right and pulls up OK.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
5.56pm
“He’s a very capable horse, if injury prone, and he’s been back in work for three or four months. You never say never but, realistically, he’s just starting off so you can’t expect him to be at his peak.”
Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
6.55pm
“I know I said it two starts back but if there’s such a thing as a certainty, he’s it. Even from seven on the gate, everything says he’s the one to beat. If he hadn’t gone a bit goofy up the home straight last time in the Sires’ Stakes Semi at Cambridge, he’d have easily run third. This is a huge drop in class.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.58pm
“I expect he’ll be a bit sharper this time. He’s looking well and feeling good but I still think another run under his belt will be beneficial for him. He’s not one to leap out of the ground but he is capable of taking the race.”
