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Louie The Punter’s been sold but he’s worth black-booking after smart trial at Bathurst

Louie The Punter … trialled like a next-up winner on Monday. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Louie The Punter … trialled like a next-up winner on Monday. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Louie The Punter has his foot on the till but when the payout comes it will be for new owners.

The four-year-old Sweet Lou gelding, tipped to have a bright future in Queensland, has been sold by Lincoln Farms and is primed to open his Australian account in New South Wales.

Now with Bathurst trainer Bernie Hewitt, Louie The Punter showed he was busting to win when trialled there on Monday, coming from five lengths off the lead on the home turn to win by 2.2 metres untested in a slick 1:56.9 mile rate for the 1730 metres.

Louie The Punter, formerly raced by Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street and Glenn and Ann Cotterill, arrived in Queensland in March the winner of just three of his 21 starts.

But trainer Mark Dux had him labelled as an immediate multi-race winner after he was photo-finished in his two Brisbane outings in April.

Out of the Bettors Delight mare Love A Gamble, Louie The Punter is a brother of Lincoln Farms’ former consistent pacer Double Or Nothing and a half brother to the 29-race winner Let It Ride who has clocked 1:48.2 in the States.

Woodlands Stud’s half-brother by Downbytheseaside was one of the most sought-after lots at today’s New Zealand Bloodstock weanling sale at Karaka, fetching $36,000 to the bid of Queensland agent Stu Valentine.

Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Thursday night at Cambridge

Race 1: The Night Fox
4.59pm

“He’s racing well and I can’t fault him. The opposition is stronger this time but I can’t see why he won’t go another good race.”

Race 3: Spiritual Bliss
5.59pm

“She’s a good, tough mare. It depends on the trip you get in these sort of races but she loves it when they run hard and she can get some of the money.”

Race 3: Ultimate Cullect
5.59pm

“We haven’t had a lot of time to assess her yet. From the one drive I’ve had on her she doesn’t strike me as a sit-sprinter. But if they go hard, hopefully she’ll get home well.”

Race 5: Lincoln Maree
6.57pm

“It’s a “brutal” race but she’s drawn to get a suck along and hopefully she can last well enough for a cheque.”

Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.29pm

“There are a few in there that are better than him but he has a handicap advantage and, if he gets a good trip, he could get some of it. He steps well and his driver reckoned he would have won last week if he’d got the run at the right time.”

Race 10: Sammy Lincoln
9.23pm

“I can’t imagine him being beaten - they’d have to knock him over. He’s very fast and in case he has to move quickly early we’ll use the shorteners. I can’t see any problem with him going left-handed - he’s probably better that way.”

Race 11: Rivergirl Bella
9.54pm

“She’s honest and will try hard.”

Whales Harness