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 Auckland
Race 2: Sammy Lincoln
6.18pm
“He was checked and locked wheels into the first turn last week and he had a decent puncture wound in his leg from where they ran into him so you certainly couldn’t condemn him for galloping. He’s a really nice horse, who is going to win races quickly. He hasn’t missed any work, and should be right in it.”
Race 3: Lincoln Wave
6.43pm
“He’s drawn wide again (six) but he’s good enough to get the job done. It’s a bit more of a test for him but there are no cup horses in there and he’s a pretty nice horse. We’ve waited for both him and Sammy Lincoln because of their setbacks at two but it’s been worth it.”
Race 4: Johnny Lincoln
7.11pm
“He was very tough in winning after sitting parked last week. He’s awkwardly drawn again but he tries hard and, with a bit of luck and a good trip, he can get some of it.”
Race 6: Tyson
8.08pm
“Completely forget his run last week when he had no luck in the running. He’s a definite chance.”
Race 6: Spiritual Bliss
8.08pm
“She took no harm from the incident last Friday and has trained on well. I think she’ll go well. If you analyse her run, they went down the back in 27.8 and she did well to finish on for fourth after sitting parked.”
