Apieceoflou just needs a reasonable trip from the second row to be hard to beat at Auckland on Friday night. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
Apieceoflou can get a piece of it again - Franco Nandor to be driven conservatively
By Barry Lichter • 19 November 2020
Apieceoflou is expected to have a fitness edge on stablemate Franco Nandor when the two clash in the fifth race at Auckland on Friday night.
Apieceoflou is racing consistently, running two fourths since he made the most of his first decent trip at Auckland last month and scored his maiden win.
Two starts back he paced a fast 1:54.7 mile when fourth behind Taipo and last start, while his fourth from the one-one might initially have looked a shade disappointing, he was parked for the first 800 metres on a muddling pace.
“David (Butcher) said it was a stop-start race which didn’t suit him.” Green said. “He needs a steady trip.
“He’s not a bad horse and if he can get a good trip from the second row he should be our best shot as he’s race fit.”
Franco Nandor, on his way to winning his last start, has strengthened with a spell. PHOTO: Megan Leifting/Race Images.Franco Nandor, while a last-start winner, has not raced for more than three months so is likely to be driven a little more conservatively than his usual on-pace style, Green said.
“He’s been coming down well (on times) in training and looks a bit stronger than last time in, he’s put on a lot of weight.”
Franco Nandor has had three workouts in successive weeks, running third, winning, then finishing second last Saturday when he moved up to park 600 metres out, challenged in the run home and was pipped late by Ariella on a 27.5 quarter.
“He couldn’t do the hard trips last time and got a bit tired towards the end but he’s nice and bright and so long as he doesn’t have to do too much he’s a chance.”
Green will run Franco Nandor in a removable hood on Friday revealing the horse was a bit keen last time in blinds.
Stablemate Revitalise is sitting the race out while he recovers from a foot abscess that turned into a quarter crack which required surgery.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Jessie Lincoln
5.25pm
“This is her first run back and first at the Park but I’m expecting her to be very competitive. She ran a nice trial and she seems pretty good. I think she’ll be in the money. She’s a much stronger individual after her break - the big ones tend to take a little longer to make. I like her. She’ll be winning races for sure.”
Race 4: Johnny Lincoln
6.16pm
“We’re testing the water with him but he’s a proper racehorse and, drawn one, he won’t be far off them. I can’t see him beating those others but he’s a little tradesman who is a worthy candidate for the race.”
Race 4: Lincoln Wave
6.19pm
“You just have to forget about his last start because of the puncture and assess him on the previous two runs. We’re not expecting a huge effort from him - he’s on his way back up after a five-week break and there’s a fair bit of improvement in him. But I think he’s a very nice horse and I’m not afraid to front up to the good ones with him. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he got into it, even from five. We still don’t really know what we’ve got with him. But whatever he does on Friday night will tidy him up for the next one.”
