Leap To Fame leads last week’s derby heat with Simply Sam sitting three back in the running line.
Draw gods smile on Simply Sam giving Ray hope he can give the Derby hotpots a fright
By Barry Lichter • 5 October 2022
Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green knows how hard it is to win a Victoria Derby but, after the draw gods smiled on him this week, he is hoping Simply Sam can give the favourites a fright on Saturday night.
Green has tilted at Victoria’s rich classic with two of Lincoln Farms’ best pacers, triple derby winner Badlands Bute running fifth in 2005, after sitting parked, and Sir Lincoln a certainty beaten when second in 2010.
More recently, Line Up won the derby just weeks after being sent to Australia.
This years’ contest will see Simply Sam face a speedy crop but after the improving pacer drew the pole, Green’s hopes lifted a little.
“If he could sit on their backs, he might hopefully give them a fright. He’ll certainly get his chance.”
Green can see Grant Dixon charging across from five on heat runner-up Leap To Fame and, in the perfect scenario, driver Nathan Jack could then get a perfect trail with Simply Sam behind the Queenslander.
“Nathan said he got out of the gate quite well the other day and he thinks he should be able to hold up in front early. Hopefully we’re not crossed by too many. Even three fence would be good.”
Simply Sam has to come three wide round a tiring rival in last week’s derby heat with Captain Ravishing and Leap To Fame well clear.Green said Jack reported Simply Sam was still improving and paced his best race this campaign in last week’s derby heat when third, albeit 17 metres behind Leap To Fame.
“He was held up behind one and had to come three wide round the turn. By then the others had gone. From there he lost no ground and he may have even picked up some.”
The official sectionals showed Sam running his last mile in 1:55.97, 800 metres in 53.98 and 400 in 26.9, excellent going considering he travelled an extra 33 metres during the race.
Leap To Fame, by comparison, clocked 53.48 and 26.61, travelling only an extra 18 metres during the race.
Exceptional winner Captain Ravishing sprinted home in 53.22 and 26.52, covering an extra 40 metres from the second row.
Captain Ravishing will again have to work hard from the second row and Green is hoping he’ll go round and attack, setting up the chance of the favourites cutting each other’s throats.
Tough task for Brisbane-bound Argyle
Sam’s stablemate Argyle, who did not make the final after being run down to ninth last week, lines up earlier in the night in the second race where on R71 he is clearly the lowest rated in the rating 70 to 89 field.
Under the preferential barrier draw conditions, that gives him the ace draw, gifting him the chance to once again adopt his favourite pacemaking role.
“That’s the perfect draw for him but, realistically, in that field he’s only a runner’s chance,” Green said.
Green revealed it was planned, subject to the agreement of Lincoln Farms’ partners in the horse, to dispatch Argyle north to Brisbane next week.
“That’s where he needs to be. I don’t see any point in bringing him home where he’ll have to race against the best horses.”
In Queensland, under the care of Mark Dux, Argyle would be well placed with his gate speed to put plenty more money in the kitty before he reached free-for-all class.
Copy That in great condition
Meanwhile, Green is very hopeful that Copy That will take his place in Saturday night’s A$300,000 Victoria Cup despite having a minor bleed last week.
“He’s in great condition. I can’t fault him. He looks perfect. There’s no coughing or any indication he’s trying to push stuff out of his lungs. He’s getting all the medication we can legally give him to help with that.
“The stewards are coming tomorrow when we’re going to scope him, and they’re bringing their vet with them, but I can’t imagine there being any problem. And if there is, we wouldn’t want to race him anyway.
“If he passes their scrutiny, he’ll race and he’s got the best draw you could hope for. Better Eclipse will get out from one and go as hard as he can and Copy That should get a lovely suck along behind him.
“With his kind of speed, if he gets a run through, he’ll be right on them. We just need a little bit of luck.”
Argyle races at 8.32pm NZ time at Melton on Saturday night.
Simply Sam races at 10.33pm NZ time at Melton on Saturday night.
Providing he scopes clean, Copy That will race at 11.39pm NZ time at Melton on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
Forget the form line, Nemo is in Saturday’s race at Albion Park ‘right up to his ears’
Fine Cambridge double but Ray’s packing Lincoln Cove off to Matamata for scintigraphy
34 more meetings in the north next season as Auckland reclaims Friday nights
No way to sugar coat it - it’s tricky to predict what Sugar Ray will do on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 6: Captain Nemo
9.40pm NZ time
“I rate him a good top three chance. I’m really happy with the horse. It’s a decent drop in grade for him and I think maybe we roll the dice, go forward, and take our chances. As long as he doesn’t have to burn stupidly off the gate, if he can find the top, they’ll know he’s in the race.”
