Neptune (Andre Poutama) leads Lincoln River in Saturday’s Pukekohe workout.
Neptune gets his chance with big drop in grade at Cambridge on Thursday night
By Barry Lichter • 21 March 2023
Showy black Neptune might have disappointed trainer Ray Green in his last couple of starts at Auckland but he is set a much easier task at Cambridge on Thursday night.
The Bettor’s Delight three-year-old lands in a rating 47 to 57 race, a big drop in grade from the horses who have beaten him home in two starts since resuming.
First-up, when expected to go well, Neptune paced 2:40 flat in the Alabar Classic, but that was only good enough to run fifth behind Sherlock, Son Of Mac, Sinbad and Jolimont.
And last time, he could run only fourth to runaway winner Who’s Delight, but was really burned early in an unsuccessful crack for the lead, eventually found it 1200 metres out, then trailed, but was left with no finishing punch in another swift 2:41.4 2200 metres.
All those horses contest Friday night’s $135,000 Woodlands Stud Northern Derby, while Neptune ventures south of the Bombay hill for the first time since his debut last June.
Green says Neptune has to rate a good chance in Thursday night’s field, even though his second row draw might inconvenience him a little.
But he cautions that while the colt has shown plenty of speed, he is still not strong enough.
“He’s a big horse, who might have shot up too quickly and, from my perspective, he has been a little bit disappointing. I thought he should have run on a bit better in two or three of his starts.
“But he should be competitive in a field like this.”
Zachary Butcher brings back Commander Lincoln after his debut win at Cambridge. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.Green also lines up Cambridge debutant winner Commander Lincoln in the same race, from three on the gate.
“He doesn’t have as much speed as Neptune but I can’t fault what he’s done so far - one start for one win, and a good win.”
Hopelessly placed early, four back on the markers, driver Zachary Butcher got him out three wide with cover and he mounted a sustained home stretch finish to get up and beat Invisible a head, clocking 2:43.2.
“He’s up a grade this time but should get a nice trip from three,” Green said.
Commander Lincoln, however, could not foot it with Neptune at last Saturday’s workouts at Pukekohe, trailing him home by five lengths.
The only other Lincoln Farms’ runner on Thursday night is Next To Me who has drawn the pole in the fifth race for junior drivers.
And, while Next To Me has won only one of his 12 starts, Green is expecting him to go well from the draw.
Last start at Cambridge, Next To Me covered a lot of extra ground early from the outside of the gate, parking 1700 metres from home, and battling on bravely for a close third to stablemate Lincoln River, who contests Friday night’s derby at Auckland.
“He’ll go well if he races like last time. He trialled really well on Saturday and seems in good shape.”
Handled by race night driver Monika Ranger at Pukekohe, Next To Me trailed and fought strongly to be pipped a half head and neck by Ideal Kingdom and Loutenant.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Spirited Belle
4.46pm
Delany: “I saw she’d been punted but somebody must know something we don’t as I’ve been working her myself and, while she feels all right and hasn’t put the boot in like at Auckland, I think she’ll need the run. She hasn’t got any high speed but feels like she will stay. She has improved a bit but I’d be surprised if she won.”
Race 1: Lincoln Maree
4.46pm
“It’s always hard from these draws but she’s a tough mare who will make her own luck at some stage. She’s going well enough - her drivers have all been happy - and she’s a little warrior who tries like hell.”
Race 2: Major Copy
5.12pm
“He’s only two and very inexperienced but he feels like a good colt and there’s a lot of improvement in him. He certainly caught a lot of people’s attention last time. I don’t know how good he is yet but he’ll be right there.”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.12pm
“If he can lead without having to do too much work I can’t see anything beating him. I thought he went great last start. He pressed the winner hard ’til the corner then just flattened out in the run home, but he had every reason to do that after all the work he’d done.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.12pm
“She’s been undone by bad draws. If she led easily from three she’d be hard to beat as she’s a good front-runner.”
Race 4: Spirited Peggy
6.12pm
“We’ve had her for only two weeks but she’s seven now and has had her chance to win one. She has a bit of speed but I think she gets pulling so we’ve got the Hidez (compression) hood on her and plugged her ears up.”
Race 6: Copy N Paste
7.10pm
“We won’t see the best of him for another six months. He’s been a slow developing horse but is improving all the time and getting stronger.”
Race 6: Jessie Lincoln
7.10pm
“If I was having a bet on one of them in the race it would be her. She deserves to win one. Her last two have been really good - she just ran into one who was a bit slicker last time in Major Copy.”
Race 6: Lincoln Dealer
7.10pm
“He’s a bit one-dimensional - you’ve got to feed him track and let him run - so the second row draw is a big handicap. To his credit I was surprised he finished so close last time after all the work he did. When he gets a decent draw and crosses them they’ll know they’re at the races. He’s got a big motor and tries hard.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.08pm
“She clawed her way to the front last time but had nothing left at the finish. That won’t happen this time and she should lead easily from one.”
Race 8: Angelic Copy
8.08pm
“She’s had terrible draws but has been going good races. The others last time were just better than her but this is a big drop in class. With the right trip she could get some of it at huge odds.”
Race 9: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.35pm
“He’s not quick away from a stand but he won’t muff it completely. He steps from the front line and Peter Ferguson was quite happy with his last run.”
Race 9: Lincoln Wave
8.35pm
“He bombed the stand the first time but to be fair all those horses were rushing up at him from the back and that panicked him a bit. He’s on 10 metres this time so that won’t happen.”
