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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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Omaha Lincoln
4.49pm
“He’s never been to Cambridge, and it’s his first time off the place, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him go well - he’s certainly got enough speed to do the business. It’s guesswork trying to assess him against the others but I think he’ll do everything right so he’s a chance.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
6.51pm
“She is a bit one-dimensional - she’ll take charge of proceedings when the gate leaves. She could get parked but if she got a cheque I’d be happy.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.22pm
“He was taking ground off the winner last week and I don’t think the step up to 2700 will make much difference, he’s race fit now. He’ll do what he can do, he’s no champion, but he’s got the draw, he steps well and he won’t be far away.”
Race 7: Lincoln Wave
7.52pm
“The draw is awkward over the sprint distance at Cambridge but he’s absolutely capable of being right in the fray if he happened to get a good trip - he’s an improver every time he goes to the races. Not many of the others have run 1:54.”
Race 7: Sammy Lincoln
7.52pm
“I thought he did well to finish third last week after being parked out. The draw makes it very hard but he’s got real speed and if he dropped into it late, it wouldn’t surprise me if he got home really well.”
Race 10: Spiritual Bliss
9.24pm
“They’ll know they’ve been to the races if she gets any kind of trip. She was parked the whole way last time in 1:52 and wasn’t far off them. I don’t really want to see her parked again but you’d think Tytate would duck for cover knowing we’d say in front. She’s tough and reliable - she hasn’t gone a bad race since we’ve had her - and you know she’ll put herself in the race.”
Race 10: Another Cullect
9.24pm
“The outside is not a good draw for her but, if they go hard, it will suit her.”
