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Im Not The Maid not the worst chance against Tuesday opposition at Cambridge

Im Not The Maid might not have the experience of red hot favourite Papenhuyzen but she’s trialling well enough to run a placing on debut at Cambridge on Tuesday night.

Trainer Ray Green, who prepares the filly for Philadelphia Racing’s Phil Cook, can see why bookies have Papenhuyzen a $1.45 favourite to take the race at Cambridge’s inaugural Tuesday mini-meeting tomorrow.

The Logan Hollis and Shane Robertson-trained filly has run some fine placings in six starts, including two unlucky thirds at Cambridge.

But at $3, he says Im Not The Maid is “certainly not out of it.

“She’s never been one you get excited about but she’s a good, honest little filly who tries hard and does everything right.

“She’s not a big, powerful filly, she’s an average type, but she’s getting stronger all the time and improving bit by bit.

“And based on how she’s trialling, I think she’ll go well.”

Im Not The Maid has had three workouts in her latest prep, her latest seconds both behind in-form horses.

On July 25 she led and trailed at Pukekohe, only outfinished by Desert Dawn, a fresh-up winner for Andre Poutama at Auckland last Friday night.

And last Thursday, in a very slickly-run 2050 metres, she led and was run down only a neck by Bar Louie, who has been very impressive winning his only two starts for Steve and Amanda Telfer.

Handled by Poutama, who takes the reins on Tuesday night, Im Not The Maid and Bar Louie recorded closing sectionals of 56.7 and 27.5 with an overall mile rate of 2:01.6.

“It’s always hard to know with horses having their first start but, based on those runs, I’m presuming she has a chance,” Green said. “She could even win.”

Im Not The Maid has the breeding to be a good winner for Cook, being by A Rocknroll Dance out of his good producer Bronze Lady.

For Cook she has left Riverman Sam (seven wins) and earlier she produced the prolific winners Bronze Over (US$572,566) who scored nine wins here and another 39 in the States and Bronze Seeker (A$435,929) who won 11 here and another 17 in Australia.

Lincoln Farms’ only other runner on Tuesday, Commander Lincoln, steps up in grade on his good third in an amateur race at Auckland last Friday when he powered home for a close third.

Commander Lincoln draws two, this time in a junior drivers’ race, drawn two for Fergus Schumacher.

“He always goes as well as he can but he doesn’t have the speed of some of his rivals.”

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Thursday night at Cambridge

Race 1: Copy Ten Four
6.19pm

“He’s better going left-handed and he only has to get round safely to be right in the fray. He’s no champion but he’s not a bad horse.”

Race 3: Rivergirl Bella
7.09pm

“She should lead easily and be the one to beat. She was desperately unlucky last time and she’s in good shape.”

Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.59pm

“He goes much better the Cambridge way round and, while he’s at the mercy of what they do in front of him, he just needs to see a bit of daylight to be right in it.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 3: Rivergirl Maggie
6.07pm

“It’s her first time at the Park, so you have to take that into consideration, but she’s a little trier and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her go close. She wasn’t strong enough early to go on with but she’s strengthened up now.”

Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
7.10pm

“He’s as good as anything in the field on ability and he’s in the zone at the moment. All he needs is a trip and he’s better drawn in three this time so should go well.”

Dan Costello Race Photography