Louie The Punter has grown and got stronger during his break. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
If you’re a Punter you’ll want to keep Louie on side fresh-up at Auckland on Friday
By Barry Lichter • 17 November 2021
Louie The Punter hasn’t raced for five months but the way he’s trialling he’ll still be hard to roll at Auckland on Friday night.
Lincoln Farms’ NZ Cup-winning trainer Ray Green takes just the one horse to the Park this week but says “if Louie leads, he’ll be hard to beat.”
Louie The Punter has won both his workouts this preparation, sitting parked for the last lap in the first then leading all the way last time when convincingly beating Friday’s race rival Ultimate Missile.
Louie was particularly impressive that day, sprinting home in 57.8 and 27.7 to score by three and a quarter lengths in a 2:02.5 mile rate for the 2050 metres.
Green says the Sweet Lou gelding has grown a little and got stronger during his break and he’s hoping he can strike form immediately like he did in his last campaign when racking up a second then two wins at Auckland, clocking 2:42.7 and 2:42.9.
“He has a good draw (two) and has the gate speed to take advantage of that. Lack of race fitness might beat him but he certainly has the ability to win.
“I wasn’t overly impressed with Ultimate Missile who only fell in to win on debut.”
Louie The Punter is much better than his form line reads.
In his last three starts he:
- Sat parked throughout when last behind Zarias
- Was pushed back to the rear when second last behind stablemate Captain Nemo and
- Found subsequent Jewels winner BD Joe’s 2:39.2 tempo beyond him after trailling and racing three deep.
“He was running into some tidy horses and getting bad trips so you can forgive those runs,” says Green.
On Friday, Louie The Punter has just six rivals in an even looking line-up.
“He’ll be better for the run but looks a good each way chance.”
More news in Harness
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
