Recco Lover shows speed to take the lead in his latest workout at Pukekohe.
Big hitter Rosati buys Recco Lover, ending frustrating hiatus
By Barry Lichter • 16 January 2019
Talented Lincoln Farms pacer Recco Lover has been sold to big spending Australian Emilio Rosati - but don’t expect the horse to win fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night.
The deal ends a frustrating few weeks for Recco Lover’s owners and his trainer Ray Green who were let down by another buyer and had to watch the horse miss out on lucrative Christmas racing.
Green, who already trains the talented two-year-old Perfect Stride for Rosati and his wife Mary, says Recco Lover is to remain in the Pukekohe stable in the meantime but eventually would find his way to Australia.
Emilio RosatiRecco Lover has not raced since beating Parker at Auckland on November 23, his proposed Auckland Cup tilt derailed by the bid to buy him.
He showed some of the ability that night that Green had been touting for the previous 12 months, breaking his rivals’ hearts with a strong all-the-way win in 2:40.2.
The horse wore blinds and removable deafeners, which obviously worked to spark him out of his lazy ways.
But Green isn’t expecting such a command performance on Friday night, against mostly higher rated rivals in the fifth race.
“Even though he trained well on Tuesday morning I think he’ll be short of a run because he had a big break.’’
Recco Lover trialled nicely at Pukekohe 11 days ago, running three lengths third to headline pacers Thefixer and Chase Auckland over 2500 metres.
“He was there until halfway up the home straight but got tired, which wasn’t surprising because they ran home in 26.9.’’
Recco Lover’s sale continues a good string of results for many of his owners. He was raced here by Michael Brereton, Martin Letton, the Bula Bells Syndicate, Denis James, Steve Beckett, Deane Hutchinson, Gerard Collins, Brian & Margaret Rabbitt, Lincoln Farms Bloodstock Ltd and Ian Middleton.
Zealand Star cruises home in his latest win at Cambridge. PHOTO: FokusPhotography.Drawn to start from the unruly spot in the same race is stablemate Zealand Star who is owned by another Australian big hitter in Merv Butterworth.
And Green says the way the horse has improved lately he’d only need to get the right trip to get some of the money.
Zealand Star ran a fine third at Cambridge last week, closing hard, to back up his dominant win on the course.
“If he’d been one spot closer he’d have won for fun. But we know he’s not one you can make an early move on, he needs to get a suck into it late.
“I wouldn’t normally back him up three weeks in a row but he’s come out of the race so well, why not?
“With his rating (70) life’s not easy now but I’d like to think he can pick up another win before he goes to Australia. He’s really come to it now.
“He’s a lovely big horse, a little nervous but genuine enough.’’
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
