Simply Sam has high speed and Friday’s pole position will tell us if he can use it early too

Just one unexplored string to Simply Sam’s bow stops trainer Ray Green from labelling him a good thing at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

But everything else points to the three-year-old being an outstanding prospect in the second race, and easily the best of Lincoln Farms’ four runners on the night.

The brand of speed Simply Sam showed in his last-start win on the course, when he came from well back to score with a sizzling 55.6 last half, gives Green plenty of reason to rate him clearly the best horse in the race.

And Simply Sam showed he had trained on well when he rounded up his workout rivals in effortless style at Pukekohe last Friday.

In sprinting home from three back on the outer he clocked closing sectionals of 56.9 and 27.8 to down Friday’s race rivals Nelson’s Boy, John Wayne and Mercury Rising by two lengths.

Simply Sam ran his last half in 55.6 in this last-start win at Auckland. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.“I told Zac I’d be happy just to see him get home well but he flew late.

“He’s certainly caught the eye in his last two starts and while there’s a good bit of form in the field, he’s the best horse in the race, there’s no doubt about that.

“The only reservation I’ve got is we’ve never really asked him to leave the gate so I’m not sure if he can. And if he’s crossed from the pole, he could end up trapped down on the fence.

“I don’t see why he wouldn’t have gate speed as he’s a good pacer but we’re in virgin territory as we’ve never pushed the button on him before.

“We’ll have to ask him to leave at some stage so I’m picking Maurice (McKendry) will have a little dab on Friday. But I’ll leave it up to him, he’ll make the call.”

In Simply Sam’s favour is the front line gate speed doesn’t look too menacing, which should give Simply Sam every chance, after drawing eight (twice), nine and 12 in four of his five career starts.

Stablemate Riverman Sam, conversely, is stuck on the outside of the front line, from where Green says he is sure to go back.

“The eight draw won’t matter that much for him, he’s not one to leave anyway. If he was launched and sent forward we’d get a negative result.

“He’s best when he can sit back off a hot pace and get home over the top of them.”

Riverman Sam adopted those tactics at Cambridge at his last start when Green says he acquitted himself really well, powering home for fifth, just 2.2 lengths behind winner Bettor Grunter in a slick 2:40.6 for the 2200 metres.

“He’s improved a lot and should come into it late.”

Next To Me can make his own luck. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Green is expecting good runs from both Colonel Lincoln and Next To Me in the fourth race, given how well both horses were travelling when their race at Cambridge last week was called off after a horse fell to the track.

“Both drivers reckon they would have won, so one of them’s lying!” Green joked.

At the time, Next To Me was jogging outside the leader after looping the field for Andrew Drake, and Colonel Lincoln was going great guns three back on the markers for McKendry.

“Colonel Lincoln is still a bit green and has to be handled carefully the first bit, as he can get claustrophobic,” Green said.

“Next To Me raced pretty tough at his previous start so, in spite of his bad draw, he could put himself into the race and make his own luck.”

Green has engaged top southern reinsman John Dunn for Next To Me.