Louie The Punter’s been sold but he’s worth black-booking after smart trial at Bathurst
By Barry Lichter • 26 May 2022
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.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
4.52pm
“She did a good job last week at Auckland. Throwing her in the deep end seems to have toughened her up a bit. She’s getting stronger all the time. This is a big drop in class and she’s a chance from a better gate (three).”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.20pm
“If the real Prince turned up he’d absolutely be hard to beat. If he leads, as he should do from two, he’s a different horse.”
Race 3: Major Copy
5.54pm
“Maurice just nursed him around on debut. He was stepping over tyre marks on the track so he didn’t want to launch him into the open too soon. We’ll put a shadow roll on him this time to stop that and I can see him going a lot better from the inside draw.”
Race 3: Jessie Lincoln
5.54pm
“I’m not saying she can’t win but it will be hard for Fergie to find a good trip from the draw. She’ll need a lot of luck but she can be right in it if things go her way as she’s training well.”
Race 5: Lincoln Dealer
6.49pm
“He’s been a slow developing horse and you can’t drive him pretty, he won’t let you, as he’s a bit of a hot head. Maurice will launch him and see where he ends up.”
Race 5: Spirit Of God
6.49pm
“She got tired late last time and started hanging a bit (hitting a marker) but I thought she went OK. She did a bit early (from a wide draw) and was still there at the finish so she’s going to win a race. You never know with second line draws but it’s usually a decent impairment.”
Race 7: Lincoln Maree
7.40pm
“She never runs a bad race. She has a big motor for a little filly and should be right in the fray.”
Race 7: Angelic Copy
7.40pm
“Maurice said she foundered a bit when they took off, and got three or four lengths behind, but she didn’t lose any more ground after that and held her place. So the run wasn’t as bad as it looked and she’ll be improved.”
Race 8: Lincoln Wave
8.14pm
“It was a non-event last time (from a stand) and he’s a good horse who will be vying for the lead from five and deserves to be favourite.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.14pm
“Peter (Ferguson) said he didn’t feel as sharp last week as in the past so I’ve given him a little freshen-up with a light week and he should go better.”
