Bettor My Dreamz clears out for an easy win on cup day at Addington. PHOTO: Race Images.
From the blue army to the green army - Merv’s recruits just keep getting better and Bettor
By Barry Lichter • 21 June 2019
Fresh from his win at Auckland with The Empress, owner Merv Butterworth has sent another talented pacer up to Lincoln Farms this week.
The latest recruit Bettor My Dreamz arrived at Ray Green’s Pukekohe stable on Wednesday to replace Kiwi Bloke who was on a plane to Australia the same day.
And in the Bettor’s Delight three-year-old, Butterworth has a pacer who could really make his mark at Auckland in the next few months.
The Empress was Butterworth’s sixth individual winner since he started sending horses north for the better stakes at Auckland. And the big Melbourne owner said he was buoyed last Friday night when hearing the ATC’s interim executive director Rod Croon promise that race stakes would be protected despite the club’s projected $40 million loss on its building project.
In only five starts, Bettor My Dreamz has shown he has the ability to tuck away plenty of those bigger purses.
Bettor My Dreamz looks a good type for Alexandra Park. PHOTO: Race Images.Bought for $25,000 by Mark Purdon at the 2017 Karaka yearling sale, he scored two wins from only four starts at All Stars.
Debuting at Ashburton in October last year, he came from second last to park a lap from home and out-toughed Bettathanfast to score by a neck in a slick 2:57 for the 2400 metres.
Following what Butterworth called a terrible drive at his next start when 11th at Addington, Bettor My Dreamz lined up a $1.50 favourite on cup day and slayed his opposition by three lengths after leading over the last lap.
He didn’t back up well three days later on Show Day, weakening to sixth, Butterworth believing it was simply asking too much of a raw three-year-old.
The youngster was then sent for a long spell in Southland and reappeared for Lauren Pearson only 13 days ago at Invercargill, finishing fourth when his condition gave out - Butterworth says when a planned workout was cancelled, it left Bettor My Dreamz short of fitness.
“I don’t think going right-handed will be a problem for him - knowing the All Stars they would have done lots of work the reverse way round.’’
Bettor My Dreamz certainly has the pedigree to succeed, being from a family of big winners.
He is the third foal of the Dream Away mare All My Dreamz, who is a half sister to (Im) Corzin Terror who won 21 races and ran 30 placings, earning stakes of $513,000.
Further back in the pedigree were the derby winners Sogo and Hitchcock.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.40pm
“She’s going as good as she can. She’s got a bit of speed but isn’t that strong. But she should get a nice trip here and be right in the frame. She’ll win one soon.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.40pm
“She’s a big filly who has taken time to mature but she has plenty of ability. She’s a good pacer and I expect her to improve on her resuming run and go well.”
Race 1: Lincoln Dealer
5.40pm
“He’s a bit of a handful, too keen for his own good sometimes, so I’ll be happy to see him just get round and do most things right. He’s no superstar but he’s coming to it slowly but surely. We’re throwing him in the deep end here and he has a terrible draw but we have to start somewhere.”
Race 4: Lincoln Maree
7.04pm
“She’s as tough as old boots and tries like hell and you can’t ask for much more than that. She just lacks a bit of speed but has a good attitude. She usually finds one or two better than her but will make them work for it anyway.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.56pm
“He’ll be improved for the last run, has trialled and is working well, and has a better draw (the ace) this time. You just have to be a bit wary because he’s let us down a couple of times.”
Race 3: Angelic Copy
5.56pm
“She had a tie-up issue but seems much better now. It’s her first run for a while so she’ll definitely need the run. I’m just hoping she gets around all right and pulls up OK.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
5.56pm
“He’s a very capable horse, if injury prone, and he’s been back in work for three or four months. You never say never but, realistically, he’s just starting off so you can’t expect him to be at his peak.”
Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
6.55pm
“I know I said it two starts back but if there’s such a thing as a certainty, he’s it. Even from seven on the gate, everything says he’s the one to beat. If he hadn’t gone a bit goofy up the home straight last time in the Sires’ Stakes Semi at Cambridge, he’d have easily run third. This is a huge drop in class.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.58pm
“I expect he’ll be a bit sharper this time. He’s looking well and feeling good but I still think another run under his belt will be beneficial for him. He’s not one to leap out of the ground but he is capable of taking the race.”
