Simply Sam and Maurice McKendry easily gather in their rivals at the Park. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Small field will help our Sammy boy notch a hat-trick at the Park on Friday night
By Barry Lichter • 25 May 2022
Trainer Ray Green believes Simply Sam can notch a hat-trick at Alexandra Park on Friday night despite his two main dangers having drawn inside him.
Green likes the fact Simply Sam starts from four in the final race, with Queen Of Diamonds and Take The Miki in one and two.
“Maurice has options from there,” Green said. “One was an awkward draw for him last week.”
Lost for early gate speed McKendry soon found himself three deep on the markers but he was able to push off rounding the first turn.
And while he was still well back 600 metres from home, and had to come three wide round the final bend, once the three-year-old balanced up in the run home he quickly gathered in his rivals.
“It’s a similar bunch this week and the small field will help so he’s definitely the one to beat again.”
With only six rivals, Simply Sam shouldn’t have any traffic trouble and be able to unleash what McKendry is repeatedly describing as rare speed.
Green has a healthy respect for pole runner Queen Of Diamonds, set to share favouritism with Simply Sam courtesy of her perfect draw and stable mana.
The Mark Purdon/Hayden Cullen - trained filly might have run three and a half seconds slower than Simply Sam last week when second to Monaco Grace in the $50,000 Sires Stakes Magnifique but she was parked for the last 1200 metres, didn’t handle the final turn well in her first go right-handed, and had to contend with a slushier track after persistent squally conditions.
Queen Of Diamonds, a 1:54.7 mile rate winner at Ashburton, showed she could run time in her first start in the north at Cambridge when she unwound a withering run from last, coming five wide round the home turn and running Bettor Grunter to a length in 2:40.8, closing in 56.65.
With Purdon suspended (until after June 2 for a whip infringement), the filly will be handled on Friday night by Natalie Rasmussen.
Colonel Lincoln … needs a bit of schooling.Lincoln Farms’ only other runner on the night, Colonel Lincoln, cops a second row draw in the second race, from where McKendry can continue to educate the two-year-old.
“He’s a nice horse who just needs a bit of schooling,” Green said. “He’s a bit thick - it takes him a while to get things right in his head.
“I thought his run for third last week was very good, considering he was near last at the 600 and looped them four wide and kept running.
“If he gets lucky, hopefully he can get some of the money again.”
Green says Tony Herlihy’s Mr Chip, runner-up in all three runs this season, will be the one to catch from the pole.
More news in Harness
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
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.”
