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.
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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.”
