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.’’
More news in Harness
Hubby nearly in the dog box after Tyson delivers Debbie a Golden Gait knockout blow
Debbie lands Golden draw at last in her bid to give Sampson a haircut at the Park
Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
Our runners this week
Wednesday at Cambridge
Spiritual Bliss, Lincoln Lover, Lincoln Downs, Leo Lincoln, Lincoln Maree.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.22pm
“She got home really well on the second night at Manawatu and gets a good draw here. There’s not much exposed form in the race so it’s hard to know how she compares but she’ll win one.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Debbie Lincoln
7.01pm
“I thought she went super again last week with no luck and we’ve got a decent draw for a change so you have to like her chances. She’s been getting in on the corners, so we’ve added a Murphy blind.”
Race 3: Tyson
7.01pm
“I was impressed by the way he hung on to Captain Sampson and Greased Lightnin last week. They’re strong sprinters and it was only a sprint up the straight. He’ll need things to go his way from six.”
Race 3: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.01pm
“It was his first run for a while last week and he probably needed another trial. But we thought we might as well race him to set him up for this week. The outside draw of eight doesn’t help.”
Race 9: Lincoln Lover
9.55pm
“He’s not as sharp as our other two but he’s a game little bugger. He’ll win races for sure.”
Race 9: Prince Lincoln
9.55pm
“I thought he went really well last week. He’d had only one trial and was a bit fresh so it was understandable that he got tired the last bit. That will tighten him up and I’m expecting him to race well. He’s trained on well since.”
Race 9: Johnny Lincoln
9.55pm
“Prince has the wood on Johnny but he’ll still go well. He found the line well last week. It was his first run for a while too, and his first as a gelding.”
