The Bull Pen downs Big On Personality and Ideal Star in his first look at Alexandra Park. PHOTO: Joel Gillan/Race Images
Ray ropes yet another for Merv with The Bull Pen looking the best yet
By Barry Lichter • 26 April 2019
The Bull Pen extended a perfect record for Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green with his first-up win at Alexandra Park tonight.
The Bull Pen became the fifth individual winner Green has trained for Australian owner Merv Butterworth since he sent his first horse to Pukekohe last December.
And the way he dispatched his rivals, clocking a 2:41.7 win, signalled he will be the best so far after Steam Punk (December), Zealand Star (January) and Just Wing It and Governor’s Bay (March).
Ray Green on the phone to owner Merv Butterworth soon after The Bull Pen’s win.“I love this horse,’’ Green said when driver David Butcher brought The Bull Pen back to scale after a copybook, lead-then trail drive.
“I’ve only had him for two weeks but both times I’ve sat behind him he’s given me a powerful feel.
“Some horses go fast and feel like shit and then others are like driving a Mercedes or Maserati, compared with a Morris Minor.
“He ran past Northview Hustler like he was tied to the fence the other day.’’
The training run prompted Green to say The Bull Pen could be “the real deal” when asked how he’d go in the www.lincolnfarms.co.nz preview.
And the Tintin In America gelding didn’t let him down, spearing out from gate four to easily take the lead.
David Butcher brings The Bull Pen back to scale after a copybook drive. PHOTO: Joel Gillan/Race Images.Butcher happily handed up to race favourite Big On Personality when he came calling after 300 metres and when presented with the passing lane in the run home, quickly gathered in the leader to score by one and a quarter lengths. There was three-quarters of a length back to Ideal Star who turned in the run of the race, weaving a passage from last at the 400 metre mark, and whistling home to finish hard on the back of The Bull Pen.
Butcher described the former southerner as a nice horse who’d probably just needed a little time to furnish.
It was the six-year-old’s fifth win from only 28 starts and boosted his earnings by $10,700 to $42,545.
When asked how he handled his first try right-handed, Butcher told Green “he got in a little bit”.
“He got a little bit aggressive a couple of times and touched the cart when he started to pull but not badly.’’
The Bull Pen, who opened at $14 with the TAB bookies, and trimmed up to $9, clocked a mile rate of 1:58.2 for the 2200 metres, home in 57.3 and 28.2.
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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.”
