Driver Zachary Butcher gives trainer Ray Green his after-race report
Ray in love with Recco
By Barry Lichter • 13 September 2018
Ray Green has been around long enough to know there are no certainties in racing but if Recco Lover goes down at Cambridge on Friday night he’ll be mighty surprised.
“He’s potentially as good as anything I’ve had,’’ says Green who is tipping a good night for the stable. “Soundness is his only issue but he’s magic at the moment and if we can keep him that way he could be anything.’’
Green says Recco Lover was plagued with unsoundness through this two-year-old and three-year-old seasons.
“He was very slow maturing and couldn’t cope with the work. He had soft bones and we found little fractures around his stifles - we’ve done a lot of vet work to get him back.
“He has the ability of a cup horse and should kill them on Friday. He won’t be on top of his game after only two workouts but looking at the field he won’t have to be. Our other runner Trojan Banner looks to be his main danger.’’
Recco Lover, who lines up in gate four in the sixth race, rounded off his preparation with a very encouraging run at the Pukekohe workouts last Saturday.
Fourth behind topliners Star Galleria, On the Cards and Mach Shard, Recco Lover was timed to run his last quarter in 26.5 by driver Andre Poutama.
Star Galleria, one of the best pacers in the country, was clocked to run the 2500 metres in a cracking 3:12.5, home in 56.6 and 26.1.
On Friday the Bettor’s Delight four-year-old drops down in class to rating 57 to 63 opposition.
Banner a real Trojan this prep
Trojan Banner, drawn three, has come back a much stronger horse as a three-year-old, says Green, and is also trialling well, finishing just a neck and a head from stablemate Beaudiene Western last Saturday.
Green is tipping a profitable season for the Bettor’s Delight colt, who is out of a sister to New Zealand Cup winner Mainland Banner, and scored wins at Cambridge and Auckland last prep.
Green tips a big showing from Make Way in the seventh race on Friday night.
Having his first start since being narrowly photo-finished into fourth behind Another Masterpiece in the Harness Jewels at Cambridge in June, the Mach Three colt has been trialling strongly.
Last Saturday he finished just a neck behind stablemate I’mallaboutthebase at Pukekohe, home in 57.4 and 26.8.
“He’s really thrived since he’s been back.’’
Green says I’mallaboutthebase (race 9) should win a couple of race quite quickly for the stable.
Sent north from Woodlands in Southland by owner Steve Baucke, the mare had overcome a little knee issue and would be better for her first two runs.
“She had to go 2:41 in her first start at Auckland which was a bit alien to her. This is a good race for her to win as it’s for the boys and is penalty free.’’
While Green says everything being equal Northview Hustler (race 8) cannot beat Star Galleria with only a 10 metre start, but he could be Johnny-on-the-spot if anything goes wrong with the hot favourite.
“He’s come back super, has put weight on, and is a real gladiator. I’m expecting a big season from him. He’ll pick up some nice cheques.’’
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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.”
