Menu

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

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.

Our runners this week

Friday night at Auckland

What’s Up The Hill.

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Nathan Delany

Nathan’s comments

Tuesday twilight at Manawatu

Race 3: Onyx Shard
5.09pm

“She’s working really well and, from the good draw, hopefully she can run a drum. The field’s not that much harder than the one she beat last time at Manawatu (when parked for the last lap).”

Race 3: Kevin Kline
5.09pm

“We’re very happy with him - he’s come back a better horse. He went well at Auckland last start and is working well. We’ll be looking to go forward from the gate and hopefully get a gun run through behind Onyx Shard. On ability, he’s the better chance of the two.”

Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.39pm

“He stepped like a bullet in his first go from a stand here in March. I thought he’d do the same on the second day but he galloped. We’ve got an overcheck on and hopple shorteners on Tuesday so he should make a good beginning. If he can step and lead, then maybe take a trail, he should be hard to beat. He likes it down there where the track is quite soft.”

Nathan Delany

Nathan’s comments

Thursday night at Manawatu

Race 3: Onyx Shard
6.04pm

“I thought I had Kevin Kline covered on Tuesday when we got to the straight because she was really travelling but he kicked away on us. It would be nice if she can get out of the gate as well again - she has good gate speed - and, if she does, she can get some of it again.”

Race 3: Kevin Kline
6.04pm

“He was too good for them on Tuesday, thanks to a great Fergy drive, and he’s in the same field again this time. The extra distance and wide draw shouldn’t make much of a difference and he’s our best of the night.”

Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.02pm

“He’ll be hard to beat again if he steps like he did on Tuesday. The 10 metre handicap shouldn’t stop him. I think he’s even better if he follows something and the extra 500 metres isn’t a worry.”

Dan Costello Race Photography