Rivergirl Maggie’s donning tighter gear on Friday night to attract Auckland punters

Punters didn’t see the best of Rivergirl Maggie on debut but a gear change on Friday night should see her right in the fight.

Trainers Ray Green and Nathan Delany have tightened up the filly’s hopples since her third placing last week when she put in a few funny steps for driver Andre Poutama.

Stewards noted Rivergirl Maggie raced greenly round the home turn and again near the 150 metre mark but she was wonky in her gait even before that when trailing eventual winner Cyclone Miki.

“She put in a few steps and Andre couldn’t let her go up the straight so we’ve tweaked her gear up a bit and she’ll go better this time,” Green said.

Despite not hitting her hopples, Rivergirl Maggie was only half a neck and three lengths from the winner in her first look at Alexandra Park.

And the Bettor’s Wish filly had shown plenty of speed in winning her only preparatory workout and trial in the preceding weeks.

On Friday night Rivergirl Maggie has to race the colts and geldings after only four fillies nominated but the fairer sex get the draw advantage and she will fire out from the inside.

Green can’t see any star colts among her opposition and he is expecting her to go very well, making her each-way odds of $10 and $2.25 attractive.

Ray Green is looking to Andre Poutama for Friday night success with Rivergirl Maggie and Jessie Lincoln.The bookies are right on to stablemate Jessie Lincoln ($4.80, $1.65) in the fourth race despite her last-start gallop and a second row draw.

“I don’t know what happened last time,” said Green of the home turn break when Jessie Lincoln was humped five wide when making her run from the rear.

“She shouldn’t break like that again and, all going well, she’s the one to beat.”

Green bases his rating on Jessie Lincoln’s excellent fresh-up fourth on September 4 when the Lather Up filly sustained a big run from the back, clocking a slick 56.6 for her closing 800 metres, easily the fastest in the race won by Dolly Parton.

Poutama takes over the reins from Harrison Orange on Friday night when Jessie Lincoln will follow out her stablemate Lincoln Downs ($23, $4).

“She should get out OK as she has a bit of speed but she hasn’t carried it very far in the past.

“I think she’s got stronger now but she hasn’t raced for nearly nine months so she’ll more than likely need the run.”

Sugar Ray Lincoln ($31, $4.60) has an unconvincing formline of 6555646 and doesn’t look likely to improve on that in the last race when he meets a hot field of R48 to R54 pacers in a Metro heat.

With War Chief ($2.60), Cyclone Rebel ($2.70), Allamericanplayer ($4) and Lulana ($6) facing off, Green says it’s hard to see Sugar Ray Lincoln featuring.

“He’s racing honestly and driving well but it’s hard to see him sprinting past that lot.”