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
All hail Debbie, the new speed queen of Alex Park, as she tackles a mile from the pole
Ray reaches for the half hopples to keep Whats Up The Hill trotting at Cambridge on Thursday
Debbie Lincoln’s sizzling win has namesake Debbie Green excited about the future
A Moose in his happy place is a fast Moose but programming hurdles lie ahead
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Whats Up The Hill
4.59pm
“Fergie wasn’t exuding praise for him after his last start when he galloped away. But we’ve taken everything off him this time, no half hopples, no fixed deafeners, and that’s the same as when he won at Auckland last prep.”
Race 5: Lincoln La Moose
6.45pm
“The winner had it handed to him last time, when he went only 2:45.9, and that meant he outsprinted our boy with a 56.3 last half. When we won the previous week he went 2:40. He likes to roll along, so it will be tempo dependent. It’s his first go from a stand and only second at 2700 metres so we’ll find out if he likes it.”

Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Debbie Lincoln
6.49pm
“We’ve never really tried to leave the gate with her but, from the inside draw, she has the advantage and should lead or trail. You’d have to say on her last run she’s the best chance of our trio.”
Race 3: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.49pm
“He’s thriving and looking very well. He was only just beaten last time and, from two, should get every chance.”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
6.49pm
“His closing sectionals were very fast last week and he never goes a bad race. The draw isn’t as desirable, but the small field helps.”
Race 4: Tyson
7.21pm
“He had to do a lot of work last week. You can never count him out because he’s so tough.”