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
By Barry Lichter • 3 September 2019
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.“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.
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Les Harding
Monday at Globe Derby
Race 6: Beaudiene Rocknroll
6.34pm NZ time
This race will tell us how he measures up against the local horses. We decided to go for this lower graded race, despite having lower prize money, instead of going to the trials one more time. He won the second of two trials on April 21, beating race rival Hezrockinroyalty by four metres. Run over 2230 metres he clocked 57.7 for his last half and 1:59.7 for his last mile. From the pole he’ll start short and be hard to beat.
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 7: Lincoln Lou
8.25pm
“He’s a beautiful little horse who doesn’t do anything wrong. He got held up at a crucial time last week and got home well (for sixth). He gets out pretty well so should get a good trip from two. He’ll go his usual honest race. He’s improving all the time, he’s a gutsy little guy, but whether he can measure up to the favourites remains to be seen.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.25pm
“He’s a work in progress and we’re still dabbling with his gear. He’s actually a naturally good-gaited horse, like all the American Ideals, but he’s going through a stage of not really knowing why he’s out there. You just don’t know when he’ll click but three is an ideal draw for him and he should be handy if he does things right.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
9.20pm
“He’s an under-rated horse, as good as those others who are higher rated. He’s proving to be a tidy horse and, while he’s not viewed as a serious player by some, I think he is. He was closing off really well last week behind Hugotastic.”
