Apieceoflou (Andre Poutama) flies up the passing lane at Alexandra Park tonight. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
Ray’s faith in Apieceoflou justified - but his mates in the pub didn’t back him!
By Barry Lichter • 23 October 2020
Apieceoflou showed in emphatic fashion at Alexandra Park tonight why trainer Ray Green has been resisting sending the horse to Brisbane.
For the first time in his short career, Apieceoflou enjoyed the run of the race in the opening event, the fourth $20,000 Sires’ Stakes heat.
And he delivered on the promise Green has seen in him for many months when he swept up the passing lane under the urgings of Andre Poutama to down the heavily backed favourites Luke John and General Montana.
The Sweet Lou three-year-old clocked a tidy 2:02.6 for the 1700 metres, a mile rate of 1:56 flat, and reeled off impressive closing sectionals of 55.1 and 26.9.
Watching the race from a pub in Christchurch, where he is preparing Copy That and American Dealer for features at Ashburton on Monday, Green delighted in the success.
“That was very satisfying for me. They’ve been nagging me to send the horse to Brisbane for quite a while but he’s too good for that.
Apieceoflou scores at outsized odds in the Sires’ Stakes heat. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.“I’m sitting in the pub here telling everyone about how incredibly unlucky he’s been but no one backed him - and he’s paid $26 and $7!
“That’s the first decent trip he’s had and it was against better class horses than he’s been racing.
“I’ve been saying for a long time that he’s a nice horse who’s only going to get better and better. He’s got a ton of potential.”
Green says Apieceoflou has always shown plenty and has a beautiful attitude.
“He’s a big horse and if anything he’s still a bit weak. We gelded him, which sucked a bit of strength out of him, but he’ll get stronger with time.
“His pedigree tells you he needs time. The mare’s half sister went 1:47 in the States but not ’til later. It’s a slow maturing breed.”
Apieceoflou is out of the unraced Rocknroll Hanover mare Wantapieceofme whose half sister was world champion Shebestingin (1:47) winner of 18 races and $760,000.
What Apieceoflou looked like as a yearling when sold by Noel Kennard and Pembrook Park.It’s family full of big winners with her other relations including Hop Sing (1:48.6, $973,000, 27 USA wins) and Bono Bests (1:49.6, $532,000, 25 USA wins).
Green credited Woodlands Stud principal Andrew Grierson with alerting him to that fact late on sale day in Chistchurch, and led to Lincoln Farms’ boss John Street paying $85,000 for the colt.
Green doesn’t intend wrecking the horse by rushing him into the $150,000 Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Final at Addington next month against stablemate American Dealer and the likes of Krug.
“I don’t think he’s ready for that yet. Maybe he’ll be ready for the derbies later on when the longer distance will suit better. He’ll be a different animal then.”
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Our runners this week
Saturday night at Albion Park
Captain Nemo.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
