
Nemo will find it tough on Friday and Tommy’s out, waiting for the guns to go home

Northern horsemen rally behind McKendry and seek review of controversial rule

Next To Me drawn to feature for our Monika at Cambridge on Thursday night

Up-and-comer Simply Sam shows he has other strings to his bow with brilliant win

Don’t be fooled by the poor form line, Tommy’s racing as well as ever and will go close
X-rays show the champ Copy That 100% - New Zealand Cup here we come!
Improving Simply Sam has the speed to win again at Auckland on Thursday night
Tommy can’t win the Gold Cup at Redcliffe but he’s racing better than a 100-to-one chance
Champagne after Riverman Sam’s win caps special birthday night for 96-year-old Joan
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Next To Me
5.50pm
“He’s starting to put it together and looks a serious chance. He’s gone some nice races. He was entitled to run last there one night (when badly checked) and finished fourth so he’s tough enough. He should get every chance from the draw.”
Race 2: Whiz On Bye
5.50pm
“I don’t think there’s much between him and Next To Me. He’s pacing much better now and he was quite good in the last of his three workouts. I hope they can both run in the money.”
Race 3: Riverboy Ben
6.15pm
“The second row draw is awkward for him over only 1700 metres - obviously he’ll get back. I think he’s a horse who will need a trip and he’s not likely to get one from there. He’ll need to be lucky.”
Race 7: Riverman Sam
7.55pm
“I think he’s the best horse in the race and I don’t see why he can’t do it again. The 2200 metres won’t worry him. He’s no slug, he’s got speed. I got him home in 27.2 when he won over 2700 metres.”

Mark Dux’s comments
Friday at Albion Park
Race 6: Captain Nemo
6.07pm NZ time
“It’s a pretty strong field - every bit as good as last week, maybe stronger - and while he’s starting to get back to where he was, he’s not quite there yet. We’ll come out steady on, get into the running line, and play it by ear.”
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 1: Tommy Lincoln
7.15pm NZ time
“He’s first emergency so I’ll give him a week off to freshen up and then start again. I don’t know whether he just had an off night last week or if the 26.6 first quarter played into it. That other horse was in our face the rest of the way too.”