It’s been a long wait for American Rocker but she’s finally ready to turn up the volume
By Barry Lichter • 16 May 2023
It’s fair to say trainer Ray Green expected American Rocker to be on the racetrack and winning long before now.
That’s why he snapped up a share himself when Lincoln Farms took in partners on the American Ideal filly.
But 17 months after American Rocker won a workout at first time of asking, she finally lines up at the races - in the fifth event at Cambridge on Thursday night.
It’s a night Green, Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street, their business manager Ian Middleton, the nine-women Excell syndicate, David Turner and Daphne Jones have waited a while for.
American Rocker showed ability right from the get-go. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.And in what Green describes as “not a great field” he believes the filly is very capable of winning.
American Rocker, who is out of the four-race winner Sabellian, cost just $22,500 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Christchurch yearling sale in 2021 but was one of the most precocious of her year and made Green’s top early group when put into training.
“She’s got the ability all right,” Green said. “That’s why I went in on her myself, she looked so good early on.
“But she developed a few problems along the way, and has had a few seasonal problems too.
“She seems to be getting better and better now and is trialling well.”
After three workouts this prep, and nine in all, American Rocker won her 2050 metre qualifying trial at Pukekohe last Friday like an early winner.
Taken straight to the front by driver Andre Poutama, she scored comfortably in 2:38.2, one tenth of a second faster than her talented stablemate Beaudiene Rocknroll clocked later in the day. It represented a mile rate of 2:04.1, with closing sectionals of 58.3 and 27.9.
On Thursday night, from gate three, in a field mostly devoid of form, Poutama could look to adopt the same tactics.
Bettor Cheer scored all the way for Zachary Butcher last week. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.Front-running tactics got Bettor Cheer home last week but the three-year-old will find it much harder in the eighth race, drawn the second row and up in grade.
“Zac (Butcher) gave him the best possible trip last week, as he likes to roll along a bit and take it to them. He just lacks a bit of speed.
“But he steps up in class and from three the second row we won’t be holding our breath.”
Captain Nemo’s four-year-old half brother Toe The Line (race four) proved a surprise packet last week, placing on debut.
“I wasn’t expecting much at all so I was pleasantly surprised,” Green said.
“You couldn’t fault what he did and I hope he goes as well again.”
Toe The Line enjoyed an economical trip three deep and, despite being held up on the home turn, finished fast to be beaten only three-quarters of a length by the heavily punted Denny.
He moves one further out to five on the gate on Thursday night.
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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.”
