Louie The Punter, outer, is right there last week after a shocking run.
Mark: Louie’s the one for Punters - he needs only average luck on Friday night to score
By Barry Lichter • 5 May 2022
Louie The Punter’s massive last start performance has left trainer Mark Dux confident he can win another four of five races in Queensland before the going gets tougher.
And the winning should start in the third race at Albion Park on Friday night even though the horse starts from the outside of the second row.
The Sweet Lou four-year-old could not have been more impressive in only his second race in Brisbane last week when he was badly inconvenienced at the start and came from last to go under by only half a neck, a nose and a short half head.
Dux had been hoping Louie would trail Congo Line all the way but when that horse crawled out of the pole, then galloped, forcing driver Pete McMullen to take evasive action and go round him, it looked curtains.
But when the pace dropped away in the second quarter to a pedestrian 32, McMullen got on his bike, starting a long three wide run from the rear.
And despite not getting any cover, the horse kept coming, looking a distinct danger up the straight.
The long green arrow alongside Louie The Punter’s name shows he made up 18 metres on the leader in the last 800 metres.Louie The Punter’s superior sectionals underlined the enormity of his effort, his 55.43 and 28.54 seeing him make up 18 metres on the leader over the last 800 metres.
“How far would we have won by if he’d trailed?” Dux said. “Pete was impressed and he should be very tough to beat on Friday night with even average luck. He just needs no bad luck like last time.
“I’m very happy with the horse, he pulled up well, and on last week’s effort he’ll win a few more races no trouble.”
Only one horse in Friday’s race has a higher rating than Louie The Punter (NR57) but Mach Brilliance (NR62) has drawn the outside of the arm.
Louie The Punter races at 8.25pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.
More news in Harness
OK Sammy, lightning bolts aside, Ray’s relying on you to do things right this time
Lincoln Dealer has the genes but not the barrier draw for Cambridge debut
HRNZ boss Brad Steele resigns after less than two years; chairman praises his work
$101 monster upset! - Lincoln Wave makes the most of lucky break and fills plenty of pockets
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.40pm
“She’s going as good as she can. She’s got a bit of speed but isn’t that strong. But she should get a nice trip here and be right in the frame. She’ll win one soon.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.40pm
“She’s a big filly who has taken time to mature but she has plenty of ability. She’s a good pacer and I expect her to improve on her resuming run and go well.”
Race 1: Lincoln Dealer
5.40pm
“He’s a bit of a handful, too keen for his own good sometimes, so I’ll be happy to see him just get round and do most things right. He’s no superstar but he’s coming to it slowly but surely. We’re throwing him in the deep end here and he has a terrible draw but we have to start somewhere.”
Race 4: Lincoln Maree
7.04pm
“She’s as tough as old boots and tries like hell and you can’t ask for much more than that. She just lacks a bit of speed but has a good attitude. She usually finds one or two better than her but will make them work for it anyway.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.56pm
“He’ll be improved for the last run, has trialled and is working well, and has a better draw (the ace) this time. You just have to be a bit wary because he’s let us down a couple of times.”
Race 3: Angelic Copy
5.56pm
“She had a tie-up issue but seems much better now. It’s her first run for a while so she’ll definitely need the run. I’m just hoping she gets around all right and pulls up OK.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
5.56pm
“He’s a very capable horse, if injury prone, and he’s been back in work for three or four months. You never say never but, realistically, he’s just starting off so you can’t expect him to be at his peak.”
Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
6.55pm
“I know I said it two starts back but if there’s such a thing as a certainty, he’s it. Even from seven on the gate, everything says he’s the one to beat. If he hadn’t gone a bit goofy up the home straight last time in the Sires’ Stakes Semi at Cambridge, he’d have easily run third. This is a huge drop in class.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.58pm
“I expect he’ll be a bit sharper this time. He’s looking well and feeling good but I still think another run under his belt will be beneficial for him. He’s not one to leap out of the ground but he is capable of taking the race.”
