Bettor My Dreamz on a real improving curve and worth watching at Auckland on Friday
Bettor My Dreamz looked an improver for Lincoln Farms when finishing strongly for second at today’s Pukekohe workouts.
The Bettor’s Delight four-year-old dropped to the rear early from his outside draw, was three back on the outer at the bell, still there on the final turn, and powered home for Zachary Butcher to be beaten a length and a half by The Lone Ranger.
Bettor My Dreamz cost himself some momentum in the run home by getting his head round but trainer Ray Green doesn’t expect to see that when he races at Auckland on Friday night.
“That was left-handed today but he’s not so bad right-handed.
“He’s a nice horse, he’s improved a lot lately and he should go well next week.”
The 2050 metre heat was cut out in 2:37, a mile rate of 2:03.3 with the final 800 metres in 58.4 and 400 in 28.4, with pacemaker Peter Forsberg hanging on for third.
Double Or Nothing … lacked killer punch.Butcher also eased Double Or Nothing to the back of his 2050 metre heat after starting from the outside but he slotted nicely into the one-one a lap out and looked a real threat when pulled out three wide turning in.
But the just turned three-year-old couldn’t get past Tony Herlihy’s Prince Of Pleasure in the run home and was a length adrift at the post, just shading Turbo.
“Zac felt like he should have run past them in the straight but he did his normal thing,” said Green.
The trip was run in 2:39.4, a mile rate of 2:05.1, with closing sectionals of 58.8 and 29.2.
Lincoln Farms’ only other runner The Bull Pen was in a clump of horses behind Check In at the finish of the rating 60 and faster 2500 metre heat.
The finishing picture was confused by the late break of leader Bare Knuckle, now with Brent Mangos after doing his recent racing in Australia with Kerryn Manning.
Driver Andre Poutama was holding on to The Bull Pen near the finish, as he was hanging in, with the galloping Bare Knuckle just inside him, but he was only one and a quarter lengths from the winner, with two heads separating him, Ball Of Art and Mohs Em Down at the line.
The Bull Pen raced fourth in indian file after making a mistake soon after the standing start, but he settled quickly without losing too much ground.
“He went OK,” said Green of the run which took 3:13, a mile rate of 2:04.2. The leaders closed in 58 and 28.
More news in Harness
Second row draws against Prince Lincoln and Spiritual Bliss but they’re still favourites
Davine snaps up fleet-footed Debbie Lincoln but you can still follow her in Queensland
It’s Christmas-New Year Bliss for Phillips but just who has his mare fallen in love with?
Prince set to sign off 2025 in style but Ray tips out two specials to follow in the New Year
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Johnny Lincoln
5.39pm
“He didn’t do anything at Auckland last start but seems to go better left-handed and placed at Cambridge in his only start there.”
Race 2: Lincoln Maree
5.39pm
“Her driver (Harrison Orange) said she would have won last start had that horse (Mr Miki) not stopped in her face. The winner was gone by the time she saw daylight. She will just need some luck from the second row draw.”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.39pm
“He should have won last start at Auckland but we’ve taken the blinds off on Friday night and, in a weaker line-up, going left-handed, we’ll see how he goes.”
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.37pm
“I think the race will be won or lost soon after the start. It’s out of our control, we just have to hope she gets a run through and then I’m sure she’ll be hard to beat.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.40pm
“She’s got a little bit of lick but only has a short sprint, so timing is everything.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.40pm
“Being put in the race from the start last time obviously took a bit of the sting out of him. But at least there’s no chance that will happen this time from the second row. In his previous races he’d ducked for cover and got sucked along but he needs a decent tempo, he’s no sit-sprinter.”

