Simply Sam has John Wayne well covered at the finish tonight. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Ray: Simply Sam’s very fast but he lacks the tools for a Queensland Derby campaign
By Barry Lichter • 16 June 2022
Simply Sam once again showed his great turn of foot at Alexandra Park tonight but he will need to develop his all round game further before trainer Ray Green tests him further afield.
Thoughts of a winter campaign in Queensland have been shelved despite Simply Sam notching the third win of his career with consummate ease.
While the American Ideal three-year-old showed blistering speed to reel in the leaders in the last 150 metres, and win by two lengths going away, it’s the first part of his races that he needs to work on.
As usual, Simply Sam showed no gate speed, and was running last for driver Maurice McKendry after just 200 metres, a profile which Green says has in part KOed a tilt at next month’s Queensland Derby, a race the stable’s American Dealer won last year.
“He needs to develop gate speed to warrant taking anywhere. Brisbane is a long way to go to end up in the back half of the field.
“You need to be able to take up a position at Albion Park, where they run very fast closing sectionals, and until he improves his gate speed, he’s not going anywhere.”
Green says the fact there are a couple of very good three-year-olds in Queensland was also a factor in passing on the trip.
“He’s had only a handful of starts and hasn’t fronted up to the top three-year-olds yet.
“Last year Krug was the big talk for the derbies over there but little Dealer had beaten him several times before so I wasn’t worried about him.
“We’ll just pick away here and see where he takes us. We’ll try to develop him to the top level and target races round Christmas like the New Zealand Derby at Addington, a track that should really suit him.”
Green believes given another six months Simply Sam will be right up to competing with the best three-year-olds.
“He’s a lovely pacer and has very high speed.”
Simply Sam clocked 2:43.4 tonight, a mile rate of 1:59.5 and, coming from three back on the outer, ran considerably faster closing sectionals than the leader’s 56.4 and 27.2.
The son of Simply Stunning now boasts earnings of $28,850 from just nine starts for Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street, Kim Miller, Robert and Donna Best, Priscilla Edmunds, the Red and Blue Syndicate and the Green Machine Racing Syndicate.
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Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Lincoln Maree
5.55pm
“Frank drove a nice race on her last time, doing a bit of work early before leading and trailing, but I think the result might have been different if she’d led all the way. She has no speed, she’s better in front and rolling, so this week we’ll tell Frank to go forward and to not hand up and hopefully she can go one better.”
Race 4: The Night Fox
6.56pm
“He got KOed last time at Auckland but Harry said he felt like he could have won with a decent draw so we’ll just put that race behind us. I wouldn’t say this field is any harder. We’ve got a bad draw again but it depends on how the race pans out. I think he can still win.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.58pm
“He’s doing a good job, and he ran home well last time at Cambridge, but Leo Lincoln is definitely the pick of ours.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.58pm
“He’ll strip a lot fitter and I think he’s a good winning chance. He’s been racing open class horses and this is a huge drop back for him.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Linda
5.06pm
“I’m not holding my breath. She beat a poor bunch at Cambridge and will have to step up here.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
5.45pm
“Given the right trip, she should finish off not too bad as she has a bit of speed but, after two runs back, she needs to improve.”
Race 7: Missy Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s only little but she trialled super and got home in 2:00.6 mile rate. If she repeats that, she’ll be in the fray. It’s early days yet but she’s a nice, tractable filly who has drawn well in two and, based on that one trial, you’d have to give her a chance. Whether she improves off it, we’ll see.”
Race 8: Spiritual Bliss
8.34pm
“I don’t think any of the others stand over her. She’s a tough mare who has trained on well. I’d love to see her in front, she’s proven that’s where she goes best, but whether she’ll get there from four is debatable. But I’m sure she’ll go another good race.”
