Tartan Robyn (Maurice McKendry) is four lengths clear and coasting to the line at Cambridge tonight. PHOTO: Angelique Bridson.
Merv’s Tartan Robyn flies at Cambridge but his next flight will be to Melbourne
By Barry Lichter • 8 April 2021
Tartan Robyn had his flight to Australia booked long before he turned tonight’s feature Cambridge race into a blitzkrieg.
Owner Merv Butterworth, keen to exploit the myriad of opportunities afforded a pacer of Tartan Robyn’s calibre in Victoria, says the horse will be on a plane to Melbourne on April 28.
“I can place him far better over here,” Butterworth said from his Melbourne home. “He’ll win a lot of country races.”
Tartan Robyn will join the successful stable of Kerryn Manning who already has eight of Butterworth’s racing team.
“What I like about Tartan Robyn is he’s a Bettors Delight and is still untapped.”
Butterworth said Tartan Robyn had been dogged by bad luck since he sent the horse north to Ray Green at Lincoln Farms, bad draws and bad trips disguising some excellent runs.
“He’s gone plus or minus 2:40 in just about every race he’s been in at Auckland. I finally said to Ray let’s put him in at Cambridge as he’s better left-handed.”
Merv Butterworth … placing horses where they can perform best is his forte.And the result was never in doubt from the moment driver Maurice McKendry saw the three wide train coming 1500 metres from home and pounced out of the one-one to wrest the lead.
Butterworth, held up in traffic on the way home from his office, made it to his TV with one minute to spare - and was glad he did.
“I’ve never seen Macca drive with so much confidence. Every time he turned around to have a look he couldn’t find any dangers. He even smiled!”
Running away in the home straight, Tartan Robyn scored by four lengths from the unlucky, late closing Jack Tar clocking impressive closing sectionals of 55.8 and 27.4.
His mile rate for the 2200 metres was a slick 1:57.2 with the trip run in 2:40.3.
It was Tartan Robyn’s sixth win from 47 starts and took his bankroll to $48,112.
Butterworth hardly had time to calculate his winnings from Tartan Robyn’s $5 winning dividend - Green had been confident about his chances - than his calculator was busy again when She Reigns ($4.10), whom he part owns with trainer Graeme Rogerson, scored by an even bigger margin in the next race.
After making a lightning beginning from the 40 metre back mark for driver Dylan Ferguson, She Reigns found the one-one and, when the brakes were released, skied away to a four and three-quarter length win.
The five-year-old Monarchy mare clocked a sizzling 3:24.3 for the 2700 metres, just four tenths of a second outside Pretty Majestic’s national mares’ record.
“That was good business tonight,” Butterworth said.
More news in Harness
Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
A picture of Bliss but poor Harry’s arms were nearly pulled out of their sockets
Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
