Andrew Drake with Ace Commander going about their daily business at Lincoln Farms. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
Ray: Hard to see Ace taking a trick on Friday but he’s good for some minor cash
By Barry Lichter • 18 December 2019
Ace Commander is a lovely old horse, says trainer Ray Green, but realistically he knows he’s going to struggle to win at Auckland on Friday night.
That doesn’t mean the Monarchy six-year-old can’t get some of the money in the fourth race, however, with only five rivals, and being the highest equal rated horse in the field.
Sharing the R66 mark with him, however, is returning trotter Tricky Ric who looked a real mover and shaker last season which he climaxed with a second to Tickle Me Pink in the Three-year-Old Ruby at the Harness Jewels.
Tricky Ric signalled he was coming to hand well when only two necks behind subsequent Methven Green Mile winner Heavyweight Hero and Tickle Me Pink at the Pukekohe workouts last month.
Ace Commander … lovely old trotter who trainer Ray Green would like to see run along in front.Ace Commander might not have been in quite such exalted company in his last start at Auckland last Saturday night but nevertheless his third was behind two up-and-coming types in Havehorsewilltravel and Anditover, in a fast 2:43.9 for the 2200 metres.
Three back on the outer most of the way, Ace Commander was pulled out to make his challenge 500 metres from home but only battled away, finishing 3.8 lengths from the winner.
It was his best run in four starts this time in, following on from two races where he was bottled up in the home stretch, unable to show what he had.
“He whacked away quite well last time and I’m hoping he can go a notch closer this time,” says Green.
“He’s no champion but he’s doing everything right and should get a win soon. I’d like to see him on the front end some time as he trots along every well like that.
“So long as he keeps getting cheques I’ll be happy but you’d have to say that once he wins he’ll have to be exported as he will find it tough in the next grade.”
Owned by Australian Merv Butterworth, Ace Commander has won five of his 29 starts and bears the battle marks of a veteran, scars on his legs evidence of having being caught up in a fence at some stage earlier in his life.
His early runs for Green were spoiled by a breathing problem which needed surgery for an entrapped epiglottis.
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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.”
