Louie The Punter has taken time to grow into his big frame. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
Memo to Cambridge punters: Louie’s a different horse now he’s grown into his frame
By Barry Lichter • 7 April 2021
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.
More news in Harness
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Fine Cambridge double but Ray’s packing Lincoln Cove off to Matamata for scintigraphy
34 more meetings in the north next season as Auckland reclaims Friday nights
No way to sugar coat it - it’s tricky to predict what Sugar Ray will do on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 6: Captain Nemo
9.40pm NZ time
“I rate him a good top three chance. I’m really happy with the horse. It’s a decent drop in grade for him and I think maybe we roll the dice, go forward, and take our chances. As long as he doesn’t have to burn stupidly off the gate, if he can find the top, they’ll know he’s in the race.”
