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.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
