Revitalise strongly supported tonight to get pre cup win for Copy That’s owners
By Barry Lichter • 6 November 2020
The money is coming for Lincoln Farms’ Revitalise who looks a strong winning chance when he drops in grade at Cambridge tonight.
The horses Revitalise will meet in the third race are well down in quality on those he faced at Auckland last time, hence his odds shrinking from $4 to $3.40.
Revitalise, who is raced by Copy That’s Melbourne owners Merv and Meg Butterworth, ran only ninth in Taipo’s impressive 1:53.7 mile at Alexandra Park last week.
But he had no chance after driver Maurice McKendry found himself four wide round the first turn and was forced to ease back to the rear.
Last at the bell, Revitalise had no chance on the clock to catch the leaders but still ran home as well as anything, clocking 1:55.2, with a closing half of 55.5.
“It wasn’t a bad run but the race just wasn’t run to suit him,” says trainer Ray Green. “He’s not quick out of the gate and takes a little while to find his feet.
“But he looks a serious winning chance tonight. The five draw doesn’t matter as he’ll just trundle out.
“Hopefully he won’t be parked but, even if he is, he’ll still run on.”
In his previous start at Cambridge, Revitalise was three wide before making the death at the 900m and was still beaten only by the exciting Alterior Motif, closing gamely to go under by only a neck.
Revitalise suffered a foot abscess soon after that run and missed five days work before his Auckland assignment so he can be expected to be much fitter tonight.
Three starts back he was best of Mr Fantastic’s rivals, the promising three-year-old also going on to win his next start, prompting his owners to refuse a big offer.
Revitalise will again be driven by Maurice McKendry.
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Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
