Classie Reactor no match for Self Assured but Ray happy with his newest recruit

Lincoln Farms’ newest recruit Classie Reactor showed he wouldn’t be long winning a race at Auckland when he trialled strongly at Pukekohe on Saturday.

Having his first outing for trainer Ray Green since being sent north a couple of weeks ago by Australian owner Merv Butterworth, Classie Reactor powered home late to finish only a length and a half and a nose behind the All Stars’ topliner Self Assured.

Handled patiently by driver Andrew Drake, the Auckland Reactor five-year-old trailed second then third in the running when Self Assured swished to the front after a lap.

Drake later reported the horse felt ordinary before he asked him to run, but put in well in a sharp dash home, Self Assured cutting out the last 400 in 26.9 to record 2:37.7 for the 2050 metres, a mile rate of 2:03.8.

In a very close finish, the former Benny Hill-trained Double O Heaven, on his way to Victoria for new trainer Brent Lilley, nosed out Classie Reactor for second.

Classie Reactor’s heart rate was a little high when checked afterwards but Green plans to nominate him for Friday at Auckland to see what sort of opposition he might meet.

A rating 59 pacer with only five starts behind him, Classie Reactor was bought by Butterworth out of Grant Payne’s stable after winning two races at Timaru and Ashburton in July, 2018.

When he fell sick, Butterworth gave him a long spell and the horse had been away from the track for 16 months when he reappeared at Wyndham on November 17, running fifth for Lauren Pearson.

Green, who describes the horse as plain but a real gentleman, says he handled his first attempt right-handed yesterday in great style.

“I think he had a spreader on down south but he never put a foot wrong without it yesterday.

“And the way he went he should win a race pretty quickly.”

First run since surgery

Stablemate Zealand Star finished sixth in the same heat after galloping out of contention at the start.

Driver Andre Poutama clocked Zealand Star to run home in 27.2, a pretty good effort considering it was his first serious run since March when he was found to have a split pastern and needed surgery to insert three screws in the leg.

Green wasn’t 100% happy with the way Zealand Star paced and suspects he may have to inject the six-year-old’s ankle again.

“He’s a work in progress and will need a few more trials yet.”

Man Of Action finishes close up in behind the first four on Saturday.Man Of Action ran fifth of five in his 2050 metre heat but he was right in behind the first four home.

Driver Zachary Butcher gave the three-year-old a quiet run in his first fast hitout since July, never pulling off the back of Madame Connoistre in the home stretch.

“Zac said he felt good but he’ll need a few more,” said Green.

Man Of Action, a Bettor’s Delight half brother to Lincoln Farms’ Make Way, ran a second and two thirds in his last campaign, “going close a couple of times” but Green thought he needed a break after having a few hard runs.

“I don’t think he’s a derby horse but he’ll win a race or two.”

The heat was taken out by Rainbow Wiri in a very tight finish with a nose to Akarana Prince, a head to Matai Geordie and a nose to Madam Connoistre, the trip cut out in 2:38, a mile rate of 2:04. The closing sectionals were run in 59.1 and 28.3.