Perfect Stride (Zachary Butcher) trails Double Or Nothing in the first Young Guns heat.
Ray’s message to his Young Guns drivers: Don’t be scared of the blue jersey
By Barry Lichter • 28 December 2018
The barrier draw has conspired against Lincoln Farms’ Young Guns trio at Alexandra Park on Monday but trainer Ray Green isn’t raising the white flag - and he hopes his drivers won’t either.
While the All Stars’ opening Young Guns winner Smooth Deal looks to have a winning edge, perfectly drawn in three this time, Green believes Perfect Stride can give him a real run for his money from four. And he is looking forward to seeing how much Sir Tiger (six) and Double Or Nothing (eight) have improved on their first outings.
“The one thing I don’t want to see is Mark (Purdon) go to the front and everybody else be scared of the blue jersey and settle for running second,’’ says Green.
That’s basically what happened last time when Purdon let the brakes go on Smooth Deal 1200 metres out and took the front off Double Or Nothing.
It will be harder for Double Or Nothing to lead on Monday from the outside of the gate but that doesn’t mean driver David Butcher won’t try.
“If he goes forward it will be tough for him but if he goes back it will be tough as well,’’ says Green.
But an aggressive drive by Zachary Butcher on Perfect Stride could well see him cross Smooth Deal on dispatch - from the pole he clearly had the early edge on Smooth Deal last time when that horse left from eight.
If that happened Green says Perfect Stride has to be a real chance.
We didn’t get to see how close Perfect Stride could have pushed Smooth Deal last time when the horse jumped a pile of poo on the track just as he was moving up on the home turn, galloped and lost two to three lengths and his winning chance.
“I’m sure he’ll have improved from that run. But just how much we won’t know until the day,’’ says Green.
Sir Tiger … likely improver.Sir Tiger was never a factor in the first Young Guns race after racing greenly in the score-up and being slightly back at the start but Green says he’s looking forward to seeing what he can do on Monday.
Sir Tiger became unsettled before the gate moved away last time, actually getting under the arm and bashing it.
Green says he will make sure the attendants are more vigilant this time and help the horse if he needs it.
While Sir Tiger ran only seventh in that first heat he actually ran the equal fastest last half of 56.5 along with winner Smooth Deal and was one tenth of a second faster over his last mile (1:57.1) than runner-up Double Or Nothing.
“He never stops improving and he’s trained quite well this week. He has the potential to spring a surprise and I’ve got Maurice (McKendry) on this time.’’
Trojan needs luck from draw
Trojan Banner has an inside second row draw to contend with in the fourth race but needs only a little luck to be in the money at good odds.
He lost the chance to work into a good possie last week by pacing roughly when trying to follow out the speedy Sezana then was forced down to four deep on the markers.
Driver Andre Poutama got off the markers 450 metres from home and despite being forced four wide turning for home, Trojan Banner sustained a strong finish for fourth, only 1.7 lengths from the winner.
“I thought he flattened out the last bit’’ says Green. “He hasn’t realised the potential we thought he had but with a lot of luck he can be in it.’’
More news in Harness
Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Copy N Paste a ‘tradesman’ but look for bold debut run at Cambridge on Thursday night
Ray reveals his theory on why rank outsider Sammy Lincoln can play a hand in the derby
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
6.38pm
“I’m not sure where she’s at. It’s a big drop in class - there’s not much in there - but I don’t think she’ll morph into a star. She was hitting the sulky wheels last time and over-racing but that won’t happen again.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.36pm
“She paced roughly last time but we’ve done a bit of work on her since so she should be happier this time. It depends on the trip she gets (from four) but she’ll go an honest race. She’s no superstar, but she doesn’t miss many cheques.”
Race 8: Copy N Paste
8.45pm
“He’s dour and tradesman-like but he’s getting there. It’s his first time off the place, and the trip will improve him, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him competitive in what is a very weak field. Sometimes you don’t know what the Bettors Delights have got until they front up at the races but he trialled well and beat a couple who are against him here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.53pm
“He actually tried last time. He’s a nice horse but can change his mind quickly. Full blinds woke him up last time so we’ll see if he responds to them again this time.”
Race 3: Omaha Lincoln
5.46pm
“I think he’ll go a good race but it’s his first time at Alexandra Park so I don’t want to talk him up too much. He’s got enough ability to win a race like this, whether he’s ready to do it, we’ll find out. He can get a bit keen at times but I think he’s a chance if he does everything right.”
Race 5: Spiritual Bliss
6.54pm
“It was another great run last time after leading and she’s a good, tough mare who will go another good race. What trip she gets will determine where she finishes. From five, I’m picking she might go back this time but I’ll leave that up to the driver (Harrison Orange).”
Race 6: Sharpe Stride
7.24pm
“He’s a nice trotter, a big strong colt. He can get a bit hot but there’s nothing wrong with how he goes. He’s certainly not good enough to deal with these but he’s there for a run around.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.57pm
“He’s racing in career-best form and they were struggling for runners so I put him in. He gets a starting fee of $1750 so we won’t go home empty-handed. I’m really happy with him, he’s handling right-handed racing better these days. But he’s racing the bear cats so I’m not suggesting for a second he’ll give them a fright.”
Race 10: Colonel Lincoln
9.25pm
“I thought he went super last time. It was a vast improvement on the previous two starts and you’ve got to remember he was out for a long time. He’s coming to it now and improving all the time. I couldn’t label him but I’d be surprised if he’s not in the first three or four. He’s trained on well and gets a front row draw.”
Race 10: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.25pm
“He was given too much to do last time - up to park at the bell - and you can’t drive the ears off them every time. With a more conservative trip he’d be right in it.”
