Nathan Jack gets Just Hope home for an upset win in the NSW Oaks earlier in the year.
Nathan’s not just hailing a cab - he’s catching a flight to make sure he can drive Simply Sam
By Barry Lichter • 8 September 2022
Trainer Ray Green is hoping Simply Sam flies at Ballarat on Friday night because that’s exactly what his driver will have to do just to make the start line.
Top driver Nathan Jack has six drives at Wagga, 540km away, earlier in the day and handles his last one at the Riverina Raceway at 5.52pm NZ time.
With a driving time of five and a half hours between the two tracks, and Simply Sam’s race carded for 11pm NZ time, Jack would have no chance of arriving in time.
But Green was comforted to hear this afternoon that Jack will be flying back to Melbourne after his last drive before catching a car ride for the 117km trip to Ballarat, an hour and a half away.
Simply Sam is the only engagement at Ballarat for Jack, who has been contracted to drive all Lincoln Farms’ team during the Victorian campaign, Copy That in particular.
“These boys are keen, all right,” said Green of the effort Jack is making on Friday. “But I’m expecting it to be worth it for him.
“I think he’ll go very well. I can’t imagine him going badly.”
Simply Sam, winner of five of his last seven starts, has only five three-year-olds opposing him in the A$15,000 Holloway Classic. And, on paper, there’s only one danger, Captain Ravishing, who is a rating 56 horse, all of 20 points inferior to Simply Sam but highly spruked by his connections.
Captain Vanishing (Anthony Butt) hit the headlines in his first two starts.The Captaintreacherous colt made headlines winning his first two starts at Melton last December and January and breaking the three-year-old track record for 1720 metres with a mile rate of 1:52.5.
While only fourth in the Caduceus Classic, second in a NSW Derby heat and last in the final, he still impressed top reinsman Anthony Butt with his beautiful gait.
Captain Ravishing has since moved from Ahmed Taiba’s stable to the top barn of Emma Stewart where he is reported to be working the house down in preparation for his first start in six months.
“I hear he’s pretty good but we can’t be worried about any of the others,” Green said. “We’ve got the class horse in the field and while he hasn’t raced for nearly two months he trialled nicely behind Copy That back home.”
Allowed only to run home from the back that day, Simply Sam gave driver Zachary Bucher a good feel and was just a neck, half a head and two and a half lengths behind Copy That, Taipo and Major Perry, a smart first-up winner last week.
Simply Sam last raced on July 15 when he exploded round the field six wide turning for home at Auckland and powered home to beat Zarias and Riverman Sam in the Winter Cup (2700m).
His record reads five wins and three placings from 11 starts for John and Lynne Street and their partners Kim Miller, Robert and Donna Best, Priscilla Edmunds, the Red and Blue Syndicate and the Green Machine Racing Syndicate.
He is being aimed at the A$200,000 Victoria Derby on October 8.
Simply Sam races at 11pm NZ time at Ballarat on Friday night.
More news in Harness
The dream’s alive but Nate tells why he’ll wait for ‘Harry’ before racing Eric again
Ray gives reformed Rascal his ‘most likely to succeed’ report from the pole on Friday night
Ray doesn’t pull any punches about Sugar Ray but punters weigh in nonetheless
Partners and pedigree made Johnny Lincoln’s win special - but where was everyone?
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.14pm
“She went pretty well last week considering they came a fast last half (56.3) and she sat parked from the 800. She’s back to the amateur grade, and should get a good run from the two draw, so hopefully we can get a bit of cash.”
Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
6.38pm
“He didn’t handle the right-handed bends at Auckland last week (galloping at the 300) so we’ll stick to Cambridge from now on. There’s a bit of gate speed in the race so Harry (Harrison Orange) should be able to sit in somewhere. I think he’s a good chance to run top three.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.59pm
“He’s racing very well. He would have run second last week (to American Me) had he not spooked at the winning post. These are tidy horses he’s racing against but he’s holding his own.”
Race 1: Kevin Kline
5.59pm
“He’ll go better back to a mobile start. He did well to finish so close last week after a slow start than having to do all the donkey work when parked for the last lap. Maurice really likes him because he just puts him into cruise control and he keeps going.”
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.58pm
“She’s not as good as the other filly but some lift their game when the money’s up so maybe she can pick up a cheque.”
Race 3: Lincoln’s Spice
6.58pm
“She looks a pretty decent chance of winning. She’s a real little tradesman, does nothing wrong, is easy to handle, is a nice drive, tries hard, is great gaited and has the potential to get stronger.”
Race 5: Tyson
7.51pm
“We found out he raced with a virus last time. The next morning snot was pouring out his nose and that’s why he didn’t finish it off as well as we expected. He only whacked away in the run home. With that gone, he should race better.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
7.51pm
“I think he’ll be competitive and he’s the best of ours in the race. He won well last week and has trained on well. He’s promising. I couldn’t go as far as to say he’s a classic colt yet but we’ll find out soon enough.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.51pm
“He’s doing my head in. He had no excuse for breaking last week. Maurice (McKendry) didn’t blame the wet track. He said he was gliding along, travelling beautifully, when for no apparent reason he put in big steps. I’ll put a hood on him this time to see if it’s a nervous issue.”
Race 8: The Rascal
9.23pm
“All going well, he should win what is a poor maiden field. He’s elevated himself from the transfer list and is going well now. He doesn’t have huge gate speed, so he may not lead but he should get a good trip from one. On paper, he’s our best chance of the night.”
