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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!

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.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.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.”

Our runners this week

Saturday night at Albion Park

Argyle.

Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 1: Lincoln La Moose
5.43pm

“Drawn well, he should get a good trip and be the one to beat. He got held up at Cambridge last time and these amateur races are easier to win.”

Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.43pm

“The form line doesn’t show it but he actually went ok last time, they just sprinted and left him flat-footed. He’ll go his usual honest race.”

Race 2: Angelic Copy
6.16pm

“She and Linda train and trial together and are much more forward than the others. She’s a proper little tradesman who can do whatever you want and she tries hard.”

Race 2: Prince Lincoln
6.16pm

“He’s not as forward as the fillies. He’s still learning and can do nothing but improve.”

Race 2: Lincoln Lover
6.16pm

“He’s another who will benefit from the experience but he’s by Bettor’s Delight and they tend to lift their game when the money’s up.”

Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
6.16pm

“She has a bit of speed but is not as tractable as Linda - she doesn’t handle the corners quite as well and might be a little better left-handed. But she’s as good as any of them at the moment and, in the small field, should get her chance.”

Race 2: Lincoln Linda
6.16pm

“Though drawn the outside, she should really be the one to beat, based on her trial. She’s quite a strong filly, who is well gaited and should go forward. Maurice (McKendry) has driven her two or three times and he likes her.”

Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.08pm

“He should be dangerous against what is not a wonderful bunch. He trialled well, a nose behind Lewey Maguire (home in 56.4). All three of mine are nice horses and should be right there.”

Race 4: Tyson
7.08pm

“He was laying in on the corners last time at Cambridge and it was just a sprint home. He needs to be driven a bit more aggressively - he’s gone his best races when he’s been put in the race. Remember he sat parked when third to Arna’s good one (Chase Me) in December. He can tough it.”

Race 4: Colonel Lincoln
7.08pm

“He’s training down well, as good as you could expect. He’s done nothing wrong in three starts back. The outside draw is an inconvenience but, when he slots in, he won’t be far off them.”

Race 7: Kevin Kline
8.38pm

“He got held up last time and the winner got away on him. He should get a nice trip from one. He’ll go another honest race and will be in it for a while.”

Race 7: Debbie Lincoln
8.38pm

“She could be quite a nice filly. The way she’s developing I think she’ll be competitive against the better fillies later in the year. She’s quite versatile and can race tough. She has a lot of potential.”

Race 7: Frisco Bay
8.38pm

“He’d be on a par with Debbie for speed but he can get a bit carried away. Hopefully he can get a nice suck into it. I can’t fault the way they’re training and whichever of the two gets the best trip should win.”

Whales Harness