Watch for Simply Sam to hit the line hard at Kilmore on Friday night.
Simply Sam drawn to dash late but will they let Ravishing get away with murder again?
By Barry Lichter • 21 September 2022
Simply Sam needs only to hit the line hard at Kilmore on Friday night to tell trainer Ray Green that he’s primed for the Victoria Derby.
A last start winner at Shepparton, Simply Sam is handicapped by a second row draw in the A$25,000 Withers Classic, from where Green says he’ll need a lot of luck to beat impressive Ballarat winner Captain Ravishing.
“If he gets away with murder again in front, he’ll be impossible to beat,” said Green of Captain Ravishing who ripped off unheard of closing sectionals of 52.8 and 25.1 in the Holloway Classic.
“He’s obviously a very fast horse but I’ve got a suspicion he might not cope with being mauled a bit.”
Green says he can’t imagine the other drivers will let Captain Ravishing get away with walking to the quarter on Friday but the next three favourites have all drawn the second row and Simply Sam won’t be in a position to force the issue.
“He’ll need a bit of luck from the second row and I’m hoping he can get a nice suck into the race.
“This isn’t the race we’re here for. And, while it would be great to win a $25,000 race, as long as he gets home well, I”ll be happy.
“Then he should be firing on all eight cylinders for the derby heats the following week.”
Nathan Jack drives Argyle in race eight.The A$200,000 Victoria Derby on October 8 is still also a likely target for stablemate Argyle who goes round out of his grade three races later.
An all-the-way winner at Melton on September 10, Argyle is the lowest rated in the rating 75 to 85 over 2180 metres but that’s by design, says Green.
“We had two choices - go in this race from a good alley or draw badly in a lesser race.
“I ran it past our driver Nathan Jack and he said in the easier field he’d have to loop the field and rough it. “He’s always gone his best races getting a handy trip and that’s what he’ll get from two. Sure, he’s racing out of his grade and they’re all tidy horses but there’s nothing wonderful in there.”
Argyle has continued to thrive since his win at Melton in a R67-R75 race after which Green did some remedial shoeing on the horse.
“We had flip flops on him before. He had a bit of an issue when an abscess blew out of his heel and, while the hoof grew down, the flip flops kept it off the ground.
“But we’ve taken them off, trimmed his feet up a bit, and he has aluminium shoes on in front now.”
Copy That in good shape
Meanwhile, last week’s decisive Gammalite winner Copy That trained this morning on the straight track at Yabby Dam Farm.
“He’s in good shape. I’m about to go and put new shoes on him,” said Green enjoying a milder day in Ballarat after five days when the cold “was like being on the dark side of the moon.
“I’m hoping he’ll be on top of his game in the Smoken Up Sprint next week then it’s the big one, the Victoria Cup, on October 8.”
Copy That remains an $8.50 third favourite for the New Zealand Trotting Cup, behind Self Assured ($3) and Akuta ($4).
Simply Sam races at 9.33pm NZ time at Kilmore on Friday night.
Argyle races at 11.03pm NZ time at Kilmore on Friday night.
More news in Harness
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
A picture of Bliss but poor Harry’s arms were nearly pulled out of their sockets
Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Nate having a last spin round on his wee mate Eric - and he’s in with a very good chance
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
