Menu

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 trainer rates them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 2: Colonel Lincoln
5.23pm

“He’s come through his two runs well and we can be bolder with him from a front row draw.”

Race 2: Sugar Ray Lincoln
5.23pm

“He’s in good shape and you can’t fault what he’s doing. I don’t think the (seven) draw should make a lot of difference - he’s been parked in his last two and still got money. You wouldn’t take a trifecta without putting him in.”

Race 2: Leo Lincoln
5.23pm

“He’s racing really well and just needs a bit of luck from the second row. He’s trained on well and should go well again. ”

Race 4: Rivergirl Bella
6.27pm

“She only has a little sprint but, if she doesn’t have to do too much, she can get home well.”

Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.27pm

“She’ll win a race or two, and will get one soon as she’s honest, but she’s still very green. And to be fair to her, she hasn’t had a decent enough run where you can really judge her yet.”

Race 8: Lincoln Wave
8.38pm

“Based on the draws, Sammy looks a better chance than Lincoln Wave. Not many win from out there, especially in a Group I race. But I suppose he had a similar draw at Cambridge (six) and got lucky (squeezing into the trail when Nymbal broke) so you never know what can happen. It won’t be easy for him but it would be nice to see him get a good trip as I think he’ll handle the 2700 metres as well as the others.”

Race 8: Sammy Lincoln
8.38pm

“If he can hold up, that would be marvellous as if anything can give Jumal a fright, it’s him. I know he’s still a maiden but he’s better than most of them ability-wise. He’s a classy big bugger who is very fast and if he ends up on Jumal’s back he’d be dangerous. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the fray as he has such a lot of ability.”

Rac e 10: Prince Lincoln
9.37pm

“If the real Prince Lincoln turned up he’d be in the money, but you never know with him.”

Whales Harness