Trainer Ray Green brings Just Wing It back to Lincoln Farms’ stable at Pukekohe today.
Just Wing It swoops on Pukekohe rivals like the next winner for Merv
By Barry Lichter • 9 February 2019
Just Wing It looks like being the next winner for Merv Butterworth in the Lincoln green colours after he jogged home in his first workout since joining trainer Ray Green.
Just two days after the leading Australian owner enjoyed a track record win with Zealand Star at Cambridge, Green let Just Wing It stretch his wings in a 2050 metre heat for up to rating 50 horses.
And considering he moved to Lincoln Farms’ Pukekohe barn only six weeks ago it augurs well for his future that he easily accounted for his opposition.
Allowed to drop out to the rear early, driver Zachary Butcher manoeuvred the Art Major four-year-old into the one-one with a lap to run.
And when Butcher pulled him out three wide before the home turn, he quickly pounced on the leaders, getting home by three-quarters of a length, holding off a late dash by Pekeson with closing sectionals of 61 and 28.9.
Just Wing It scored a three-quarter length win in his first workout for trainer Ray Green at Pukekohe today.His overall time of 2:38.3 was nothing to write home about, the mile rate 2:04.2, but it was the way he achieved it that impressed Green.
“He’s got a bit of speed and he should win a race, and do it quite quickly.
“He steered quite well today and for a first run that was excellent.’’
Just Wing It will wear spreaders because he can hit a knee but Green says “he’s no slug.
“The more we do with him the better he seems to get.
“And he has shown a bit in the past.’’
Just Wing It, whose dam Starling left 18-race winner (Our) Blackbird, and last week’s Otaki winner The Night Hawk, previously raced from the stable of Michael Purdon. In five starts between August and October last year he recorded two thirds, clocking 2:42.7 in the second of them behind Power Dreaming at Auckland.
“I’ll give him another workout and see how he is but he’ll be at the races pretty soon.’’
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Nathan’s comments
Wednesday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Lincoln Maree
5.11pm
“She’s finding her feet and was a bit unlucky at Taupo. She put in a few rough ones out of the gate - she was like that early in her prep and could just jump out of it - but she’s generally doing things right now. She trained well on Saturday and, with the right run, could run top three.”
Race 3: The Night Fox
6pm
“He won really well on the second day at Hawera and if he races anything like he’s training he’ll be hard to beat. He ran a 27.3 quarter during the week and I was just sitting on him. I’ll tell Craig to go forward, set an even tempo and cut him loose at the 600. I think he’s our best of the night.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.35pm
“Hopefully he’s improved since Taupo when Fergie drove him a treat in front. I actually think he’s better coming off something’s back but I’ll leave it up to Fergie. He’s up a bit in grade but has the right draw to be in it all the way.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 5: Lincoln Wave
7.32pm
“He had an easy run last week and he can go a lot faster than that. He should be hard to beat. It won’t matter if he doesn’t find the lead from six, he’ll be just as effective coming from off the pace. He’s a pretty classy horse, classier than most of those against him.”
