Ray’s workout tip: Bettor needs to get a little fitter and then we can chase the Dreamz
By Barry Lichter • 30 June 2019
His sectionals weren’t sharp and neither was the opposition but Bettor My Dreamz still did enough to show he has a future in Auckland by winning his first workout at Pukekohe on Saturday.
The latest of owner Merv Butterworth’s southern pacers to be entrusted to Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green, the three-year-old was eased back to second last early in the up to rating 71 heat over 2050 metres.
Driver Zachary Butcher moved Bettor My Dreamz up to trail at the 1400 and was then happy to just stroll along in third until easing off the fence into the one-one 500 from home.
It took little urging from Butcher for Bettor My Dreamz to reel in the leader as he sprinted home in 28.2 to beat Le Girl and Imajollywally by half a length.
With the overall time only 2:41.8, a mile rate of 2:07, it didn’t set any red lights flashing but Green said Butcher was happy with the run.
“He feels like a nice horse and he’s obviously been well schooled,’’ said Green.
“We had only basic gear on him and it needs a bit of tweaking. We’ll try him in blinkers next time as he doesn’t concentrate that well.
“He’ll definitely need another workout or two as he needs to be a bit sharper. He hasn’t raced for a while.’’
Bettor My Dreamz resumed from a seven month spell at Invercargill on June 8 but was well underdone even then, according to driver Brent Barclay, after a planned workout was cancelled.
“He’s a lovely horse and when we get him fitter I’m sure he’ll do a good job.’’
Man Of Action … a real tradesman. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Lincoln Farms’ only other runner on a quiet five-heat morning, Man Of Action, also took out his event, a 2050 metres for non winners.
The improving two-year-old trailed Todd MacFarlane’s Royal to the 500 when he eased out to attack, overpowering his rival in the home stretch with closing sectionals of 58 and 27.4.
Royal kicked back to cut the margin to a head but Man Of Action was never put under any pressure to run the trip in 2:39.8, a mile rate of 2:05.4.
“He’s always reliable and tradesman-like,’’ said Green. “I’m sure he’ll win one soon.’’
Man Of Action has not gone a bad race in his three runs this prep, his latest a neck defeat to Ideal Agent on mile night at Auckland when he paced 1:57.9.
“I thought he did really well that night. He was unlucky, inconvenienced at a crucial time.’’
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
