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Sweet Lou three-year-old Double Or Nothing meets much easier opposition at Cambridge on Thursday night. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.

Big drop in class for bridesmaid Double Or Nothing at Cambridge on Thursday night

Trainer Ray Green calls him the best maiden in New Zealand and he’s pretty confident Double Or Nothing can break his duck at Cambridge on Thursday night.

Placed in seven of his 10 starts at Alexandra Park, earning $19,460 in some of the best two-year-old company, Double Or Nothing meets a moderate bunch of maidens in the fifth race.

And, judging by the way he felt in training this morning Green believes the Sweet Lou gelding is ready to show his true worth.

“He trained really well today and felt a lot stronger to me.

“People are saying he’s not genuine, and they could be right, but I’m not convinced. I think because he has so much ability we’ve expected too much of him.

“But he’s just been a big weakling and has needed a bit of time to furnish into his frame. Hopefully now he’s matured into a much stronger individual. That’s the theory anyway, we’ll see what transpires from here on in but I’ll be very surprised if he doesn’t go close.

Trackside’s Craig ‘The Whale’ Thompson interviews Double Or Nothing’s trainer Ray Green.Trackside’s Craig ‘The Whale’ Thompson interviews Double Or Nothing’s trainer Ray Green.“He should kill them really. He’s a classy horse and is light years ahead of those on ability - it’s a huge drop in class for him.”

In his last start at Auckland on August 9, Double Or Nothing led from gate five soon after the start and still looked to be travelling well when challenged early in the run home by red hot favourite Henry Hu.

But, while he lost second only in the last few strides to Mumsie’s Lad, Green thought he still should have run on better so he had the horse scoped immediately afterwards.

“I thought he was better than that and wondered if maybe he had bled. I just wanted to eliminate all possibilities. But all that they found was a little mucous in his throat so he’s probably had a dose of a virus at some stage - it’s been going round the whole area.”

On his work this week Green believes the three-year-old is now over that and he doesn’t believe the second row draw will disadvantage him too much.

“That won’t worry him at all. He’s a nice driving horse who can go forward or back, it won’t matter to him.”

In his two previous starts Double Or Nothing ran good seconds, chasing home talented types in Mighty Looee and Copy That.

Double Or Nothing is raced by Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street in partnership with long time gallops ally Neville McAlister, Rod and Sue Fleming and Bob Best.

Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 4: Tyson
6.58pm

“Drawn out wide makes it tough over 1700 metres but he’s been making his own luck. He’s not brilliant out but if he pushes on to be handy he’s got to be a big chance again. He needs to be up there on the pace or he doesn’t try too hard.”

Race 6: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.57pm

“You can’t fault what Sugar Ray’s been doing lately, and he’s been getting out with them, so he has to be a serious chance from the inside.”

Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.57pm

“Kev and Sugar Ray are pretty much on a par. Kev never goes a bad race, he’s just such a professional.”

Race 7: Johnny Lincoln
8.23pm

“He’s been racing too keenly but he won’t pull this time. We’ve got a different bit on him so Maurice will have him under control.”

Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.23pm

“He’ll need to get stronger and you couldn’t see him beating Fugitive from the outside of the arm.”

Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.48pm

“It will be interesting to see what she can do from a good draw - she’s got some speed and if she holds up early she’ll get a good trip. But she, too, needs to get stronger.”

Whales Harness