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: Sammy Lincoln
6.45pm
“He’s always had ability, he’s just needed to be inspired. But he’s starting to get the idea and it’s not a big field this week. He’s getting money every week and is an each-way chance again.”
Race 5: Jessie Lincoln
7.11pm
“She got home better than anything last week and that was her first run for a while so you’d expect she’ll improve on that.”
Race 5: Omaha Lincoln
7.11pm
“He put in a couple of steps last week, reaching for his hopples. But we’ve pulled his gear up a bit tighter and hopefully that will fix that. You could argue he’s the best horse in the race but I wouldn’t say he stands over them as he’s still very green, and has a lot to learn, and that might hold him up a little bit. But he’s certainly a good winning chance.”
Race 6: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“I thought he went pretty well first-up. He did a lot of work early and should improve with the run.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.37pm
“You can’t condemn her on last week’s run (when she broke) but this is a very strong race.”
