Ray: Simply Sam’s sizzling sectionals say he’s the best of the team on Thursday night

Sizzling sectionals posted by Simply Sam at the Pukekohe workouts have prompted trainer Ray Green to label the horse his best of the night at Auckland on Thursday.

Lincoln Farms’ four-year-old recorded closing splits of 54.1 and 26.9 in his four-and-a-half length demolition of race rivals Hesashorething and Lincoln River last Friday, times seldom bettered on the course.

And while the full 2050 metres was paced in only a 2:01.8 mile rate, it was the manner in which the four-year-old scored that impressed Green.

“He’s always had that kind of ability but it was nice to see him do it again,” Green said.

It’s been 11 months and 14 starts since Simply Sam showed his blistering come-from-the-back finish to win and Green admits he has been disappointed a number of times.

“But he seems to have lifted his game in the last week or so and he wasn’t far away last time.”

Simply Sam … overdue a return to the winner’s circle.Driven in front after a slick start from behind the tapes, Simply Sam was collared only late by Brookies Jafa and Fernleigh Cash, beaten a neck and three-quarters of a length.

On Thursday he drops back from the 2700 metres to only 1700 metres, and faces only five rivals.

“He’s always been best in a sit-and-sprint from the back, not doing too much work early, so I expect him to be very hard to beat this week with the pace likely to be on.

“But it won’t be a stroll in the park with Kahlua Flybye in the field - she’s a nice filly.”

The Steve and Amanda Telfer-trained three-year-old, who boasts six wins and six placings from only 15 starts, hasn’t raced for five months but has looked good in two recent workouts.

Simply Sam’s improving stablemate Lincoln River could hold the key to the race from the pole position, from where he could set up a genuine tempo.

“He’s showing a bit more speed now from the gate so it wouldn’t surprise me if he held up. He seems to have got a bit more efficient in his gait in his last couple of starts and has stepped up a bit as a result.”

Lincoln River lost no friends after his last start when, from a wide alley, he sat parked for the first lap before going down by only a length and a head to the good pacers Aardiebytheseaside and Miki Noel.

Stable junior Nathan Delany takes the reins on Thursday.

Leo Lincoln (Andre Poutama) backs up after his dead-heat win at Cambridge last Thursday. PHOTO: Ange Bridson.Next best chance

Last week’s Cambridge winner Leo Lincoln could be Green’s next best chance in the second race, both he and stablemate Major Achievement landing good draws.

“We were due for a bit of luck - we’ve had no luck with draws in the last three or four weeks.

“Both horses should go well as they’ve got a bit more experience than the others.

“Leo looks our best chance, and he can hopefully lead again from three.”

Driven to the front by Andre Poutama at Cambridge, the two-year-old stuck bravely to his guns to dead-heat for first, allowing him to stay in the same grade on Thursday.

“He did it in front the whole way and it’s tough for a green young horse like him to lead and shake them off like he did.

“He has the ability. The only question is whether he’s strong enough to put two starts together, though he did pull up well from last week.

“He’s a nice little horse and will develop into a better one down the track.”

Green said he had found no reason for the early gallop by Major Achievement which put him out of play at Auckland.

“Maurice (McKendry) drives him on Thursday and I don’t see why he can’t run a hole from the ace.”

Frankie Major … worked poorly on Tuesday. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Blood test for Frankie

On paper, Frankie Major looked a strong chance, drawn two in the sixth race after his home straight run last start was torpedoed when he locked wheels 130 metres out and lost all momentum.

“But there’s a bit of a cloud over him,” Green said. “He didn’t train super today so we’ll take a blood off him in the morning and see.

“He was a bit unlucky last time locking wheels in the straight and losing momentum.”

My Copy will need luck from wide on the gate in the same race.

“Six is not a good draw for him. If you go back, you end up right back, especially in a full field. If you go forward, you have to cop a bit more work.”

That said, Green said if new driver McKendry can lob into a trailing spot, he could give them a fright late.

Last start, My Copy finished on strongly into second for Jordyn Bublitz after sprinting up three then four wide round the bend.