Pole goes on Louie LeBeau on Thursday night and that could make him one of Green’s heroes
By Barry Lichter • 17 August 2021
MEETING CANCELLED
A crucial gear change could be all unlucky debutant Louie LeBeau needs to find the winners’ circle at Alexandra Park on Thursday night.
The American Ideal colt went straight into the black book after he ran seventh on August 5, blocked for a run all the way down the home straight and finishing hard on the backs of the placegetters.
When driver Andrew Drake was questioned by stewards afterwards he explained how his attempts to ease Louie LeBeau out of the one-one turning for home were thwarted by the horse getting his head round and locking on one rein.
Louie LeBeau (Andrew Drake) is untested, on the back of runner-up Supa Dupa Luca, unable to clear traffic all the way down the home stretch with Tonite’s Delight (Zachary Butcher) outside him.Once Tonite’s Delight and Zachary Butcher came round Drake, he was hemmed in with nowhere to go and Louie LeBeau went to the line untested just 2.2 lengths from the winner Riverboy Ben, right in behind runner-up Supa Dupa Luca.
Drake, the leading junior at Alexandra Park last season, told stewards trainer Ray Green would be making a gear change for the horse’s next start and, after working well in a boring pole since, Louie LeBeau will race with it on Thursday.
“Andrew thought that if he’d got out, he’d have been the one to beat,” Green said. “I was really happy with his run and he’s trained on well since.
“He wouldn’t have to improve much to win - he just needs the trip and hopefully he’ll get it from four.”
Green describes the two-year-old, named after the diminutive corporal in the ’60s TV show Hogan’s Heroes, as a lovely pacer and says he was pleased with how well he handled his first experience at the races.
“He’s quite a laid back colt. He can get a little hot sometimes but he does most things right and that will hold him in good stead. He’s a definite chance.”
Stablemate Arden’s Horizon will need a little luck from two on the second row in the following race but went well enough when resuming to suggest he can go close again.
Drawn on the outside of the gate in his first race for two months, Arden’s Horizon was taken back by driver David Butcher before sweeping round to park at the bell.
Considering the two-year-old was taking on older horses, he did well to fight on and finish just two necks from the winner Cowgirls N Lace.
“He ran on quite well,” Green said. “He just needed to let go in the last 50 metres but it was a tough run. He’s not a bad horse, but no champion.
“He’ll need a bit of luck but, you never know, he could end up with a good trip. The horse he’s following out (Arden Velocity) is one of the better form horses in the race so he should be in the front half of the field.”
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
