
Louie The Punter should go well again for Zachary Butcher at Auckland on Friday night.
Poor draws dent Ray’s confidence at Auckland but, given some luck, his trio are all chances
Bad draws prevent trainer Ray Green from labelling any of Lincoln Farms’ three runners at Auckland on Friday night but he says any of the trio can be right in the finish given a reasonable trip.
Louie The Punter draws worst of the three, on the outside of the gate in the last race, but Green was taken by his fresh-up run at Cambridge last week and is expecting another good effort.
Green’s confidence in the horse’s chances saw him backed in from $13 to $5 and at the post it was only the cruel photo finish camera which robbed his supporters.
Forced to do plenty of early work from the inside of the second row, driver Zachary Butcher made an early play to get off the markers and then had to burn plenty of petrol down the back straight to cross to the front.
Had it not been for more pressure from an attacker 1200 metres from home, Louie The Punter surely would have lasted but he was running on empty when the trailing favourite Montana Storm challenged him up the passing lane and got a half head decision.
Green knows Louie will have to run faster than the 2:45.9 he posted at Cambridge but says he doesn’t think that will stop the horse.
“It was a big run at Cambridge and he seems to have trained on well.
Ray Green … Louie The Punter is the best horse in the race and just needs a reasonable trip.“He’s the best horse in the field and just needs a reasonable trip. I doubt he could do an overland trip but if he gets any kind of a run he’ll be right in it.”
Louie The Punter had been showing good gate speed at the workouts and trials, giving Butcher the option of pushing the go button at the start.
That’s a weapon which Smokinhotcheddar (race three) doesn’t possess so Green says driver Maurice McKendry won’t be spending any chips early from five.
“She’s not brilliant off the gate but I expect her to go another good race. She never goes a bad one but has had a lot of bad draws.”
Last start Smokinhotcheddar drew one the second row and quickly became buried, ending up five deep and last 600 metres out.
Unable to secure a run, McKendry had to wait until 80 metres from home to try the mare.
“It was only in the last 100 metres that she started to wind up so she was definitely a victim of circumstances.”
Smokinhotcheddar had zero luck in her previous two outings also, parked each time.
“She’s going well but she has to get a good trip.”
Tartan Robyn careers away at Cambridge and could have done another lap according to driver Maurice McKendry. PHOTO: Angelique Bridson.The same applies to Tartan Robyn (race six) who finally broke his northern duck when taken south to Cambridge where he annihilated his opposition. Never in danger after McKendry found the top 1700 metres out, he careered away to a four length win, clocking 2:40.3 with a sizzling 55.8 last half.
“Maurice said he could have gone another lap.
“The draw’s not too bad (two the second row) and it’s not a big field but it will be harder for him going right handed as he tends to lose ground on the corners that way round.
“Still, he’s never gone bad and all his races have been run in fast times.”
Tartan Robyn is scheduled to fly to Melbourne on April 28 to continue his career for owners Merv and Meg Butterworth in the leading stable of Kerryn Manning.
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Our runners this week
Saturday night at Albion Park
Argyle.
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln La Moose
5.43pm
“Drawn well, he should get a good trip and be the one to beat. He got held up at Cambridge last time and these amateur races are easier to win.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.43pm
“The form line doesn’t show it but he actually went ok last time, they just sprinted and left him flat-footed. He’ll go his usual honest race.”
Race 2: Angelic Copy
6.16pm
“She and Linda train and trial together and are much more forward than the others. She’s a proper little tradesman who can do whatever you want and she tries hard.”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
6.16pm
“He’s not as forward as the fillies. He’s still learning and can do nothing but improve.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lover
6.16pm
“He’s another who will benefit from the experience but he’s by Bettor’s Delight and they tend to lift their game when the money’s up.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
6.16pm
“She has a bit of speed but is not as tractable as Linda - she doesn’t handle the corners quite as well and might be a little better left-handed. But she’s as good as any of them at the moment and, in the small field, should get her chance.”
Race 2: Lincoln Linda
6.16pm
“Though drawn the outside, she should really be the one to beat, based on her trial. She’s quite a strong filly, who is well gaited and should go forward. Maurice (McKendry) has driven her two or three times and he likes her.”
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.08pm
“He should be dangerous against what is not a wonderful bunch. He trialled well, a nose behind Lewey Maguire (home in 56.4). All three of mine are nice horses and should be right there.”
Race 4: Tyson
7.08pm
“He was laying in on the corners last time at Cambridge and it was just a sprint home. He needs to be driven a bit more aggressively - he’s gone his best races when he’s been put in the race. Remember he sat parked when third to Arna’s good one (Chase Me) in December. He can tough it.”
Race 4: Colonel Lincoln
7.08pm
“He’s training down well, as good as you could expect. He’s done nothing wrong in three starts back. The outside draw is an inconvenience but, when he slots in, he won’t be far off them.”
Race 7: Kevin Kline
8.38pm
“He got held up last time and the winner got away on him. He should get a nice trip from one. He’ll go another honest race and will be in it for a while.”
Race 7: Debbie Lincoln
8.38pm
“She could be quite a nice filly. The way she’s developing I think she’ll be competitive against the better fillies later in the year. She’s quite versatile and can race tough. She has a lot of potential.”
Race 7: Frisco Bay
8.38pm
“He’d be on a par with Debbie for speed but he can get a bit carried away. Hopefully he can get a nice suck into it. I can’t fault the way they’re training and whichever of the two gets the best trip should win.”