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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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.”
