It’s simple, Sam’s the man for Auckland on Friday night, bad draw and all

Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green has always rated Simply Sam and we should get to see why at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

The American Ideal colt resumes from a 10-month break in the sixth race and, despite copping a bad draw, Green expects him to win.

“If he gets any sort of a trip from four the second row he should be too good for them,” says Green.

“I think he’s a pretty decent colt. I really like him, I always have. He’s not race fit yet but I don’t think he has to be against this lot.”

Simply Sam has not been seen since his debut at Auckland in January when he finished fourth behind Casino Action, Argyle and Major Perry after drawing one the second row and racing three deep.

Simply Sam was clocked to run his last mile in 1:59.1 that night, the second fastest in the race behind the winner and he paced the equal fastest last 400 metres in 27.8.

Green has given the colt three workouts this preparation and he showed he was ready last Saturday when scoring well over 2050 metres after sitting parked for most of the last lap.

“He’s strengthened up well and I’d like to think we’ll see him do well this time in.”

Green also lines up debutants My Copy and Whiz On Bye in the same race and says both will benefit a lot from the experience.

My Copy, a half brother to NZ Cup winner Copy That, debuts on Friday night. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.My Copy, a Highview Tommy half brother to Green’s New Zealand Cup winner Copy That, is raced by his wife Debbie and was another sales bargain, costing just $3000.

“He’s going OK. He’s a big, lanky gelding who shot up really quickly and needs time to grow into his frame.

“He’s not as strong as he will be but, once he fills out, he should be quite a nice horse.”

My Copy has had one trial and five workouts, the latest last Saturday when third to Simply Sam.

“He should get a good trip from the one draw.”

Whiz On Bye, who will need more luck from five on the gate, is an American Ideal colt out of the Art Major mare Vivacious Madonna and boasts talented types in his pedigree like Coburg and Stunin Cullen.

“He needs to get stronger and, while it won’t happen overnight, he’s on the improve and progressing nicely.

“He’s got a bit of speed but won’t be winning on Friday. He’ll benefit from the run.”

Whiz On Bye has had one trial and four workouts, the latest when fourth behind Simply Sam.

Green says Nirvana Franco is the best of his two chances in the fourth race.

“She’s a bit stronger than Major Grace but both will get better with more racing. She was a big, green filly when she debuted at Cambridge in August and wandered around a lot.”

Nirvana Franco led, trailed and challenged up the passing lane, only to be bombed very late, finishing a length second to A Little Side Hustle.

Green thought he had Nirvana Franco ready to win six weeks ago but the filly cut her leg on the way to the races at Auckland and had to be scratched.

“She’s over that hiccup now and trialled nicely last Saturday.”

Nirvana Franco trailed third in that heat and finished resolutely to be beaten only a head by Friday’s race rival Twice Shy.

The filly will start from the inside of the second row from where she follows out Breckon Farms’ runner The Iron Lady.

Louie The Punter … fitter for first-up run last week. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Major Grace is more experienced than her stablemate, having raced three times in her first prep, the latest in March when sixth in the Group II Delightful Lady Classic.

“She was a bit weak in her first prep and was fronting up to the best fillies around. There’s nothing here of that ilk but I think she’ll benefit from the run - she’s still a bit fat.”

Major Grace - “a great little pacer who tries very hard” - has finished fifth and third in her two recent workouts.

Louie The Punter rounds out the night for Lincoln Farms in the ninth race, fitter for his fresh-up placing last Friday night.

“We threw him in the deep end a bit last week. I thought he’d need the run and he did.

“He had to do a bit early to stay in front and he was always going to get beaten with that horse (Cya Art) on his back with the drop on him.

“He went well - 1:56.3 was a good run - he just ran out of condition the last bit. He should be a bit fitter this week and will go well again but he might have to do a bit more work from the (four) draw.”