Rangy Double Or Nothing has earned an average of $1872 every time he has lined up. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
$50K? You’re kidding! Ray knocks back bid for EFTPOS card Double Or Nothing
By Barry Lichter • 25 September 2019
Double Or Nothing might not have won a race yet but trainer Ray Green isn’t about to let the circling sharks get him for unders.
Green knocked back an offer of $50,000 from Melbourne today, saying the horse is much better than that.
And even if he only racks up another placing at Auckland on Friday night, Green reckons the Sweet Lou three-year-old is racing well enough to justify his place at Lincoln Farms.
“He’s a nice horse who’s never missed a cheque in his life and not many do that.”
In 13 starts, nine as a two-year-old, Double or Nothing has earned $24,335, running six seconds, four thirds and three fourths, averaging $1872 per start, a tally Linclon Farms and its partners Rod and Sue Fleming, Bob Best and Neville McAlister aren’t complaining about.
Green has seen nothing to suggest Double Or Nothing won’t continue his earning streak on Friday when he starts from two on the second row in the fifth race.
From a much worse draw last week, the gelding turned in a solid effort, driver David Butcher easing back to last before mounting his run three wide with cover from the 800 metres.
And while he came up three and three-quarter lengths short in third place, his sectionals were the best in the race - 1:59.5 for his last mile and 55.3 for his last half, easily eclipsing the winner Brydon Earl (55.7) and runner-up Cloud Break (56.6).
On Friday he follows out Brent Mangos’ Jetson Hunter who has not raced since February but won a workout at Cambridge last Saturday.
Bettor My Dreamz is too fast for Delightful Major at the Park in August. PHOTO: Joel Gillan/Race Images.
Bettor My Dreamz looks a strong winning chance in the seventh race, dropping right back in grade.
From taking on the best horses in the north a few starts back, he gets into a rating 56 to 67 race as a rating 67 horse.
And his effort to run fourth last week to Ball Of Art, Matai Geordie and stablemate Line Up was full of merit after being three wide for the first 400 metres then parked for the rest of the trip.
He was still disputing the lead 150 metres from home and never gave up trying for driver David Butcher.
“He’s a serious chance,” says Green. “He’s got an awkward draw in seven but you know he can do a bit of work if he has to. With just a bit of luck he can do the business.”
Two starts back Bettor My Dreamz led a far stronger line-up including Solid Gold, Blazen River, Check In and Dance Time, clocking a 1:54.5 mile.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
