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
OK Sammy, lightning bolts aside, Ray’s relying on you to do things right this time
Lincoln Dealer has the genes but not the barrier draw for Cambridge debut
HRNZ boss Brad Steele resigns after less than two years; chairman praises his work
$101 monster upset! - Lincoln Wave makes the most of lucky break and fills plenty of pockets
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.40pm
“She’s going as good as she can. She’s got a bit of speed but isn’t that strong. But she should get a nice trip here and be right in the frame. She’ll win one soon.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.40pm
“She’s a big filly who has taken time to mature but she has plenty of ability. She’s a good pacer and I expect her to improve on her resuming run and go well.”
Race 1: Lincoln Dealer
5.40pm
“He’s a bit of a handful, too keen for his own good sometimes, so I’ll be happy to see him just get round and do most things right. He’s no superstar but he’s coming to it slowly but surely. We’re throwing him in the deep end here and he has a terrible draw but we have to start somewhere.”
Race 4: Lincoln Maree
7.04pm
“She’s as tough as old boots and tries like hell and you can’t ask for much more than that. She just lacks a bit of speed but has a good attitude. She usually finds one or two better than her but will make them work for it anyway.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.56pm
“He’ll be improved for the last run, has trialled and is working well, and has a better draw (the ace) this time. You just have to be a bit wary because he’s let us down a couple of times.”
Race 3: Angelic Copy
5.56pm
“She had a tie-up issue but seems much better now. It’s her first run for a while so she’ll definitely need the run. I’m just hoping she gets around all right and pulls up OK.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
5.56pm
“He’s a very capable horse, if injury prone, and he’s been back in work for three or four months. You never say never but, realistically, he’s just starting off so you can’t expect him to be at his peak.”
Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
6.55pm
“I know I said it two starts back but if there’s such a thing as a certainty, he’s it. Even from seven on the gate, everything says he’s the one to beat. If he hadn’t gone a bit goofy up the home straight last time in the Sires’ Stakes Semi at Cambridge, he’d have easily run third. This is a huge drop in class.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.58pm
“I expect he’ll be a bit sharper this time. He’s looking well and feeling good but I still think another run under his belt will be beneficial for him. He’s not one to leap out of the ground but he is capable of taking the race.”
