Just Wing It (4) and stablemate Phil Bromac parading before their last start clash at Auckland.
Little fish are sweet so take the bait with Just Wing It - hook, line and sinker
By Barry Lichter • 4 March 2019
The odds will be very short but it’s hard to see Just Wing It beaten at Cambridge on Wednesday night.
Just Wing It was deep in the red when he had his first start for Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green at Auckland on February 22 after some eye-catching workouts.
But after looping the field at the mile to lead, and looking home early in the stretch, he was nailed in the last 30 metres by Sheffield Sparky and went under by half a neck.
Green put that down to the horse having his first start for more than four months and, with the run under his belt, is not expecting any similar late fade on Wednesday.
“He had to do a bit of work and still nearly won it so on that run he’s got to be a pretty good shot this time,’’ says Green.
“He’s trained on all right, it’s not a great field and you wouldn’t think from four that he’d have to do as much work.
“He’s no superstar but he’ll win races.’’
Owner Merv Butterworth sent Just Wing It to Green late last year after he’d run two excellent placings from only five starts with Michael Purdon, chasing home Rupert Of Lincoln at Cambridge and Power Dreaming at Auckland when he paced 2:42.7.
With a tendency to get on a knee, Green races the horse with one spreader and driver Zachary Butcher reported at Auckland he didn’t hear the horse hit once.
“If he doesn’t win next time, he’ll win the time after,” Green said that night.
Stablemate Phil Bromac and Brent Mangos’ Catch The Dream are the only other horses in the field with any placed form, so there are precious few betting options for punters.
But Green believes Phil Bromac can be in the finish as well.
“He’s not as good as the other horse but he’s very honest and he actually trained quite well this week.
“He should be right in the hunt even from the outside of the gate.’’
Phil Bromac was in the same race as Just Wing It last time and, despite enjoying a perfect sit in the running line, finished three and a half lengths behind him in fourth place.
More news in Harness
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Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Bang! Lincoln Wave’s tyre blows out, startling rival drivers but Alabar win would shock more
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
