Pocket rocket American Dealer super at the workouts and will be white hot in small field
By Barry Lichter • 6 May 2021
He’ll be at prohibitive odds and you’ll have to wait until the last race but American Dealer looks the bet of the night at Alexandra Park on Friday.
The little pocket rocket faces only six rivals, four of which are rated in the 60s, and only Dance Time looks likely to test him.
Dance Time led and beat American Dealer the last time they met but Lincoln Farms’ headliner paced a slippery 55.7 in coming from the rear 600 metres out, forced four wide round a much bigger field on the home turn before powering home for second.
It was also his lead-up run to the New Zealand Derby at Addington which was a non event after he had to go back from a wide second row draw and spent the last half of the race solo and three wide trying to make up ground on Krug.
American Dealer has had an easy time since then but showed he had lost little of his fitness at the Pukekohe workouts last Saturday when he ripped home in 57.9 and 26.8 for driver Zachary Butcher to beat stablemate Tommy Lincoln by one and a quarter lengths.
“He went super ,” said trainer Ray Green. “He switched off a bit once he headed them and Zac didn’t push him out.
“Dance Time is the main danger but on paper American Dealer is the one to beat.
“His main mission is the Jewels so he’s not screwed right down - we want him firing on June 6 - but this doesn’t look too hard.
“The race will improve him but he’s the best horse in the race and he’s the one they’ve got to beat.”
Arden’s Horizon … smart winner at Auckland in March before trekking to Addington. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.American Dealer’s Addington companion Arden’s Horizon also resumes in the third race. He also trialled nicely at Pukekohe last Saturday, making the pace before being pipped a nose and a head by Sires Stakes heat winner Major Perry and Young Guns Final winner Montana DJ.
“It’s a bit of a step-up for him and a harder ask against older horses but it will be interesting to see how he handles it.
“He beat only one in the Welcome Stakes at Addington but it was a weird race, they walked and only sprinted up the straight. All he could do was hold his place.”
Arden’s Horizon is drawn to get a perfect trip from the pole and is only one placing away from qualifying for the Two-Year-Old Emerald at Cambridge next month.
Sugar Apple, fifth in the same workout heat last Saturday, resumes from a three month break in the sixth race.
The promising Sweet Lou colt has had two workouts to fit him and Green is looking forward to seeing how much improvement he has made since his first two-start campaign.
“He was a little weakling last time in and still lacks a bit of strength but he’s got raw ability.
“There don’t look to be any champions in there so I’m hoping he can win but he’ll need an economical trip. If he gets away with a good sit he’s a chance but if he has to do it tough from gate six he couldn’t win.
“It will be up to Zac to decide whether to launch at the start or go back.”
Three-year-old revelation Louie The Punter shoots for a hat-trick in the fifth race, where he has drawn to lead again, but meets much better rivals than he has been beating.
“He’s done well to come from maidens to this in the last two weeks but this will be a good test for him as it’s a step-up.”
More news in Harness
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
