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.’’
More news in Harness
Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
A picture of Bliss but poor Harry’s arms were nearly pulled out of their sockets
Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
