Classie Reactor no match for Self Assured but Ray happy with his newest recruit
By Barry Lichter • 8 December 2019
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.
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Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Copy N Paste a ‘tradesman’ but look for bold debut run at Cambridge on Thursday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
6.38pm
“I’m not sure where she’s at. It’s a big drop in class - there’s not much in there - but I don’t think she’ll morph into a star. She was hitting the sulky wheels last time and over-racing but that won’t happen again.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.36pm
“She paced roughly last time but we’ve done a bit of work on her since so she should be happier this time. It depends on the trip she gets (from four) but she’ll go an honest race. She’s no superstar, but she doesn’t miss many cheques.”
Race 8: Copy N Paste
8.45pm
“He’s dour and tradesman-like but he’s getting there. It’s his first time off the place, and the trip will improve him, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him competitive in what is a very weak field. Sometimes you don’t know what the Bettors Delights have got until they front up at the races but he trialled well and beat a couple who are against him here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.53pm
“He actually tried last time. He’s a nice horse but can change his mind quickly. Full blinds woke him up last time so we’ll see if he responds to them again this time.”
Race 3: Omaha Lincoln
5.46pm
“I think he’ll go a good race but it’s his first time at Alexandra Park so I don’t want to talk him up too much. He’s got enough ability to win a race like this, whether he’s ready to do it, we’ll find out. He can get a bit keen at times but I think he’s a chance if he does everything right.”
Race 5: Spiritual Bliss
6.54pm
“It was another great run last time after leading and she’s a good, tough mare who will go another good race. What trip she gets will determine where she finishes. From five, I’m picking she might go back this time but I’ll leave that up to the driver (Harrison Orange).”
Race 6: Sharpe Stride
7.24pm
“He’s a nice trotter, a big strong colt. He can get a bit hot but there’s nothing wrong with how he goes. He’s certainly not good enough to deal with these but he’s there for a run around.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.57pm
“He’s racing in career-best form and they were struggling for runners so I put him in. He gets a starting fee of $1750 so we won’t go home empty-handed. I’m really happy with him, he’s handling right-handed racing better these days. But he’s racing the bear cats so I’m not suggesting for a second he’ll give them a fright.”
Race 10: Colonel Lincoln
9.25pm
“I thought he went super last time. It was a vast improvement on the previous two starts and you’ve got to remember he was out for a long time. He’s coming to it now and improving all the time. I couldn’t label him but I’d be surprised if he’s not in the first three or four. He’s trained on well and gets a front row draw.”
Race 10: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.25pm
“He was given too much to do last time - up to park at the bell - and you can’t drive the ears off them every time. With a more conservative trip he’d be right in it.”
