Recco Lover … should make use of the inside alley on Friday night at Auckland. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
One bet Ray plumps for Recco Lover, the ace draw his ace in the hole at Auckland
By Barry Lichter • 31 October 2018
If he was forced to back only one of his horses on Friday night, trainer Ray Green knows which one he’d put his money on - Recco Lover.
Green lines up five horses at two venues this week, Recco Lover, Make Way and Trojan Banner at Alexandra Park, and Northview Hustler and Beaudiene Western at Addington.
Recco Lover might look to be badly off in the seventh race at Auckland, a rating 60 horse in a rating 60 to 84 field, but Green says that’s misleading.
“This horse has serious ability - he’d be quite competitive against faster horses - and he’s down in grade now.
“He’s been right up to better horses at the trials and even though he’s not as tractable as On The Cards yet he’d have given him a fright last week if he’d been handier.
“On The Cards had them by the throat a long way from home but Recco got home over the top quite well and all the best sectionals in the race were his.’’
Recco Lover was timed to run the fastest mile rate of 1:58.9, with his last 800 metres in 56.1 and 400 in 27.5.
Green sees Recco Lover’s gate one draw as a real plus on Friday night and hopes driver David Butcher will be able to take advantage of it.
“I wouldn’t mind even if he led, being in front is an advantage in a big field.’’
Make Way in winning form at Alexandra Park. PHOTO: Race Images.Easier opposition
Make Way meets easier opposition than the Sires’ Stakes heat he contested last week but will have to overcome the extreme outside gate in the fourth race.
Green doesn’t see that as an insurmountable task, given the horse’s ability, and doubts driver Zachary Butcher will try to wrest control form the gun.
“But he sat parked most of the way in the Sires’ Stakes heat and even if he had to do that again he’d be right there.
“He’s a nice, relaxed horse who keeps running and the extra distance on Friday will suit him better - it was only a mile last week.’’
Green isn’t quite sure yet what to make of driver Andre Poutama’s report last week that the horse felt strong and like a winner turning for home but seemed to drop the bit late.
“He’s still a green horse but if he was to do that again we might try pull-down blinds, that might inspire him.’’
Make Way also won time honours last week, pacing his last mile in 1:56.6 and 800 metres in 55.3.
Rival and stablemate Trojan Banner hasn’t been served well in the draw either, on the inside of the second line, from where Green says he is at the mercy of fresh runner Ideal Star in front of him.
“But if he was to get a handy trip, he’s always a chance. So far he’s been roaring home from the back.
‘He’s getting closer to a win and I’d like to think he’ll be a bit better on Friday.’’
Northview Hustler beats Star Galleria in the Spring Cup. PHOTO: Race Images.Tough assignments at Addington
Green is under no illusions over the task facing Northview Hustler in the eighth race at Addington where he meets, among others, cup favourites Ultimate Machete and Dream About Me.
But drawn one on 10 metres, Green says Northview Hustler could easily work into a striking position.
“He’s in a tough field, which is good, because he needs a good hitout before the cup, but if things go his way he could get some of it.
“He was quite dehydrated at Ashburton. The vet said he still wasn’t right until this week, when he was treated again, but he’s thriving now.
“He’s not a brilliant horse but he can be quite dangerous with the right run. He’s beaten some serious horses in the last year just through being johnny-on-the-spot.’’
Beaudiene Western, similarly, faces a tough field in his final race before the $170,000 Sires’ Stakes Final at Addington on cup day.
Drawn the second row in race five, he comes up against six of the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen battalion, including favourite Jesse Duke.
Green says Beaudiene Western has been eating well and seems bouncy enough since his race at Ashburton and needs only a nice conditioning run on Friday night.
“He won’t be sent on any search and destroy mission this time. He’s not under any pressure to get into the final, those others are, and I’d like to see him just get a suck along and get home well.
“He’ll need to get a good trip anyway to get any of this.’’
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.”
