Simply Sam downs Villacci, outer, and Dangerzone at Shepparton on Friday night.
Ray: Simply Sam in the zone and ready to take on Australia’s best three-year-olds
By Barry Lichter • 17 September 2022
Simply Sam might have won by only a head at Shepparton on Friday night but trainer Ray Green says he’s in the zone for his first big test next week.
And only after Friday night’s A$25,000 Withers Classic (mobile 2180m) at Kilmore will he know how the horse stacks up against his three-year-old opposition.
“Next week he’ll have to front up to all the good ones so it will be a bit of a derby dress rehearsal for him.
“He won’t improve unless he races equal or better opposition and I think he will, he’s right in the zone.”
Green says Simply Sam’s narrow winning margin at Shepparton was no knock on his ability.
“He won well, even though by only a head. He does only what he has to - his last three wins have been by a head, half a neck and a neck, that’s the sort of horse he is.
“The leader and parked horse were trying to walk and outsprint everyone else last night. They only crawled in the middle stages, with a second quarter of 32.1, and I thought he got home really well.”
The closing sectionals of 55.8 and 27 set up an overall mile rate of 1:56.4 for the 1690 metres, the second fastest on the night.
It was Simply Sam’s sixth win from just 13 starts for Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street, Kim Miller, Robert and Donna Best, Priscilla Edmunds, the Red And Blue Syndicate and the Green Machine Racing Syndicate.
Green says one more belt tightener and Simply Sam will be ready for the A$24,000 Victoria Derby heats (2760 metres) on October 1 before hopefully qualifying for the A$200,000 Final a week later.
“It’s all about timing and the horse seems to be coming right at the right time.”
* Green has yet to hear if stewards have finalised their investigations into the Holloway Classic eight days ago when Simply Sam was hemmed in for the entire race and the tactics of both his driver Nathan Jack and that of a rival, Allan McDonough, were questioned.
Stewards also opened an inquiry into an altercation that took place after the race between Green’s host Anton Golino, McDonough and Clayton Tonkin, who was in charge of both McDonough’s horse Idealrockidealroll and the winner Captain Ravishing.
More news in Harness
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
Nate having a last spin round on his wee mate Eric - and he’s in with a very good chance
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.”
