Trainer Ray Green has aspirations to contest December’s New Zealand Derby with Simply Sam.
Improving Simply Sam has the speed to win again at Auckland on Thursday night
By Barry Lichter • 29 June 2022
Trainer Ray Green believes Simply Sam can continue on his winning way despite having to take on a couple of higher rated interlopers.
Race seven at Auckland on Thursday night was to have been for rating 52 to 59 pacers but when only four horses were entered for the 60 and faster event, it was scrapped, Melanion (R63) and Wild Card (R64) being switched into the easier race, conditional on their being driven by claiming juniors.
But Green says Simply Sam is still the one to beat.
“You can’t fault what he’s done. If he can’t beat that lot he’s not going to go far and I think he can round them up again.”
With his great turn of foot, Green rates Simply Sam very highly and has long range aspirations to contest the New Zealand Derby in December.
And the way he swept up from second last on the home turn two weeks ago and breezed straight past his rivals to win, going away, suggested he will be more than competitive against the top three-year-olds by the end of the year.
Simply Sam had to run only 2:43.4 for that 2200 metres but he has already clocked 2:40.9 when he reeled of closing sectionals of 56 and 27 flat.
Drawn five on Thursday night, and with zero gate speed, Simply Sam will settle back in the field again but he needs only a decent crack at them in the last 400 metres to win his fourth race from only 10 starts.
Neptune … won’t be undertaking a search and destroy mission from the second row. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Green isn’t so bullish about his chaces in the third race where Neptune and Ideal Kingdom have to take on older horses after the two-year-old race was also canned for lack of numbers.
Neptune looks to be up against it, drawn five on the second row, and Green says he’ll be driven to try for a cart into the race late.
“He won’t be going on any search and destroy mission. He didn’t run on last time but I’m picking what stopped him was being burned hard early.
“He’s a promising colt but he just needs to get a bit stronger. As long as he gets home well, I’ll be happy.”
Ideal Kingdom has drawn better in three but lacks the speed of his stablemate.
“He’s a nice little horse who’ll go a good honest race I’m sure and, if things go his way, he’s a chance. We’re backing him up three weeks in a row, which is a bit tough, but he seems to be handling it.”
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.”
