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
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
