Im Not The Maid collars Messenger Buoy, obscured, at Cambridge on Thursday night. PHOTO: Ange Bridson/Race Images.
Cheers Christie! Commentator in full voice for Cambridge diva Im Not The Maid
By Barry Lichter • 16 October 2024
Owners find a myriad of ways to name their horses and South Aucklander Phil Cook came up with a novel one with Im Not The Maid.
Tuesday night’s last-stride Cambridge winner got her moniker after a family fishing trip a few years ago with Cook’s daughter Christie, who keenly follows her progress now from England.
A renowned mezzo-soprano who has sung in some of the world’s most famous opera houses, Cook became miffed at being repeatedly asked to fetch beers for the boys on the boat.
Mezzo-soprano Christie Cook provided the inspiration for naming Im Not The Maid.Her protest of “I’m Not The Maid” stuck in dad’s mind and went on top of the list when it came to naming Bronze Lady’s last foal.
And the way the filly scored her second win from only eight starts, punters will hear the name recited a bit more by northern commentators.
“She’s getting better,” said Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green.
“When she was looking for a run early in the run home, and had to go so wide, I thought she might get up for third.
“But she seems to have a wee bit of speed and really sprinted that last 30 metres.”
Im Not The Maid’s late burst in the hands of Andre Poutama carried her past Messenger Buoy right on the line to claim a head margin and her fifth cheque.
“She’s definitely improving but I’m not sure if she’s good enough to go to Auckland,” Green said.
“It’s just a shame she got penalised five points for winning $4400. If they want these sort of horses to keep coming back it should be only two or three points.
“She’s a handy little mare if placed right and we might have to think about going down to Palmy.”
The first of four meetings at Manawatu next month is on November 4.
Im Not The Maid, by A Rocknroll Dance, clocked a respectable 2:43.5 for the 2200 metres, a mile rate of 1:59.5.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
4.52pm
“She did a good job last week at Auckland. Throwing her in the deep end seems to have toughened her up a bit. She’s getting stronger all the time. This is a big drop in class and she’s a chance from a better gate (three).”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.20pm
“If the real Prince turned up he’d absolutely be hard to beat. If he leads, as he should do from two, he’s a different horse.”
Race 3: Major Copy
5.54pm
“Maurice just nursed him around on debut. He was stepping over tyre marks on the track so he didn’t want to launch him into the open too soon. We’ll put a shadow roll on him this time to stop that and I can see him going a lot better from the inside draw.”
Race 3: Jessie Lincoln
5.54pm
“I’m not saying she can’t win but it will be hard for Fergie to find a good trip from the draw. She’ll need a lot of luck but she can be right in it if things go her way as she’s training well.”
Race 5: Lincoln Dealer
6.49pm
“He’s been a slow developing horse and you can’t drive him pretty, he won’t let you, as he’s a bit of a hot head. Maurice will launch him and see where he ends up.”
Race 5: Spirit Of God
6.49pm
“She got tired late last time and started hanging a bit (hitting a marker) but I thought she went OK. She did a bit early (from a wide draw) and was still there at the finish so she’s going to win a race. You never know with second line draws but it’s usually a decent impairment.”
Race 7: Lincoln Maree
7.40pm
“She never runs a bad race. She has a big motor for a little filly and should be right in the fray.”
Race 7: Angelic Copy
7.40pm
“Maurice said she foundered a bit when they took off, and got three or four lengths behind, but she didn’t lose any more ground after that and held her place. So the run wasn’t as bad as it looked and she’ll be improved.”
Race 8: Lincoln Wave
8.14pm
“It was a non-event last time (from a stand) and he’s a good horse who will be vying for the lead from five and deserves to be favourite.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.14pm
“Peter (Ferguson) said he didn’t feel as sharp last week as in the past so I’ve given him a little freshen-up with a light week and he should go better.”
