Memo to Cambridge punters: Louie’s a different horse now he’s grown into his frame

Forget Louie The Punter’s 798 formline when he resumes at Cambridge on Thursday night.

In the eight months since we last saw Louie The Punter on the racetrack he’s done plenty of growing and filling out, says trainer Ray Green.

“He was just too weak last time. He’s a big horse and he had a lot of growing issues.

“But he’s starting to come to it now and the way he’s been training and trialling, I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do.

“The draw’s awkward but he’ll still go well as there’s nothing wonderful in the field.”

Louie The Punter will start from the inside of the two-horse second row which will negate the good gate speed he has shown in two recent runs in a workout and trial, both of which he has won from the front end.

On March 27 at Pukekohe he beat Ronda and Time Out over 2050 metres in a 2:04 mile rate and four days later he was too good for Nyla and Shirley Bromac, getting home by a neck in a mile rate of 2.03.3 in slushy conditions.

“If he races as well as he’s trialled he’s a definite chance,” Green said.

By Sweet Lou out of Love A Gamble, Louie The Punter is a brother of Lincoln Farms’ former consistent pacer Double Or Nothing and a half brother to the brilliant Let It Ride who has continued his excellent Australian form since beng sent to the States where he now boasts a fastest time of 1:48.2 and a record of 24 wins and nearly half a million dollars in stakes.

Captain Nemo after his gutsy win at Palmerston North last start. PHOTO: Royden Williams.Captain Nemo and Tartan Robyn gave the stable a solid hand in the sixth race, Nemo nicely placed in three and Tartan Robyn the only horse on the second line.

Captain Nemo has shown real grit in his latest two wins, trapped three wide most of the way at Cambridge and parked throughout at Palmerston North.

“I had high hopes for him early on but he didn’t rise to the occasion. He’s probably still not strong enough but he’s well up to this lot and I think there’s still a fair bit of improvement in him.”

Green rates Tartan Robyn just as good a winning chance with a big drop back in class from what he’s been racing at Auckland.

“The draw’s awkward but if he gets a reasonable trip he should win.

“He raced super last time - three wide from the 1300. He’s gone well every time we’ve tried him but just had no luck.”

With a form line of 64544 since arriving from the deep south, Tartan Robyn has never been far away despite bad trips.

In his last start on March 26, he went back to last from the outside of the gate and rode the three wide train from the 1300 metres.

In doing his best work late, he clocked his last mile of the 2200 metres in 1:56.4, the fastest in the race, to finish fourth to The Honey Queen, Cya Art and Show Me Heaven.