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
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
Argyle out of action, injured, and barrier draw will take Nemo out of play too on Saturday
Our runners this week
Saturday night at Albion Park
Captain Nemo.
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.”
