That’s our boy Recco - 1:52.2 at Menangle and he came from last!
By Barry Lichter • 17 April 2019
Recco Lover announced himself in the best possible way when he scored a sensational first-up win in Australia yesterday.
The former Lincoln Farms pacer came from last in a c2 to c3 race at Menangle outside Sydney, clocking the fastest time of the day, a slick 1:52.2 mile.
The performance eclipsed both winning times of the faster class events, Alpine Stride pacing 1:53.1 in the c4 to c5 event and Lovin Miss Daisy 1:53.7 in the c5 and faster.
But it was more the way the five-year-old did it that ensured he had a bright future across the Tasman.
Starting from the outside of the 10-horse field, driver Leonard Cain was forced to drop to the rear as the leader roared through the opening quarter in 25.6.
Halfway through the race Recco was slightly closer, four back on the outer, but his chances didn’t look good when he was flushed four and five wide turning for home, with the entire field in front of him.
Recco Lover, flanked by co-owners Kevin Bell, left, and Steve Beckett, while campaigning in Christchurch as a three-year-old.But the brave gelding charged down the stretch and, despite losing momentum when having to forcibly change direction 175 metres from home, he got up on the post to nose out the favourite Times Stride.
The result was a quinella for owner Emilio Rosati, who moved Recco Lover to Australia and his new private trainer Noel Daley after his last start third at Auckland on March 15.
Recco Lover was the $6 fourth favourite and earned A$5400, taking his bankroll to A$75,551.
It was the 17th time the consistent pacer had paid a dividend in just 24 starts, and further evidence that Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green was right on the mark a long time ago when labelling him a topliner in the making.
Recco Lover was sold to Rosati in January but originally raced here by Michael Brereton, Martin Letton, the Bula Bells Syndicate, Denis James, Steve Beckett, Deane Hutchinson, Gerard Collins, Brian & Margaret Rabbitt, Lincoln Farms Bloodstock Ltd and Ian Middleton.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.14pm
“She tries hard and is getting stronger. She just needs a trip to be right there.”
Race 3: Copy N Paste
6.16pm
“Maurice said he got a bit tired on debut but I didn’t expect a lot. Four months ago you’d have wondered if he’d ever qualify. He’ll improve on that - he’s improving all the time - but from seven he’ll have to go back and come into it late.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.14pm
“She’s up in grade but is a chance again if she can get a good run up the front of the field. It was a good effort last time to break 2:43.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.49pm
“She’s trained on OK and, while no champion, has to be a chance down in grade against the amateur horses.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.57pm
“I can’t see her beating Sammy Lincoln but with a good draw at last you’ll see a better performance. She’s capable of finishing in the first three.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.57pm
“She bolted in at the workouts, leading out from a wide gate and getting home in 27.9. She’s a great driving little mare and has good manners. I could see her winning one very soon.”
Race 4: Sammy Lincoln
6.57pm
“I know we’ve said it before but he has been unlucky a few times and, all things being fair and square, it’s hard to see him beaten. The draw is awkward but everything points to him winning. There are no derby horses in there and he went a great race in the Northern Derby last start.”
Race 4: Marylynes Boy
6.57pm
“He’s a tidy little horse. I can’t see him winning from the (second row) draw but he’s like Spirit Of God, he’s not far away from winning one.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.25pm
“He’s been a late developer. You can see it in his growth, his withers have finally popped up, and he’ll get better as time goes on. He’s no champion but he should be a handy horse through winter. He’s capable of stepping away fairly well.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.25pm
“It’s a toss-up between the two of them. Sugar Ray is a bit stronger perhaps but Leo is very good from a stand. You can forget that last run in the Messenger - he was only in there to help get the race off the ground.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.25pm
“He finally showed us what he’s got last week. Inside second row draws can be awkward - you’re at the mercy of the others - but he could end up with a good trail behind the leader.”
