Steam Punk a work in progress - but there’s definitely more in the tank
By Barry Lichter • 10 December 2018
Easy Auckland winner Steam Punk has the ability to win more races quite quickly - but trainer Ray Green has some experimenting to do first.
“He’s still a work in progress,’’ says Green of the three-year-old who led all the way to score in only his second race last Friday night at Alexandra Park.
While the win might have looked clinical to most, Green could see Steam Punk putting in a few fancy steps in the running, observations confirmed by driver Zachary Butcher on returning to scale.
A little rough and uncertain in his gait, Butcher told Green he kept a good grip on the horse even up the home stretch, sensing he could make a mistake if pressured too much.
“You can’t knock a winning performance but he did only go 2:46.7,’’ says Green.
Zachary Butcher brings Steam Punk back to scale.“I’m sure there’s a lot more there but we need to sort a few little things first. I’ll be doing a bit of experimenting with him before he lines up again.
“I’m still learning about the horse but when we can get him pacing 100 percent and ask him for more, he should win two or three more races quite quickly.’’
Steam Punk has been at Lincoln Farms for only a month after being sent north by Australian owner Merv Butterworth.
He showed this nervy nature on debut on November 30 when he lost the plot after being hunted hard out of the gate, galloping out of contention.
Green was immediately on to that, deadening him down for his next start with a fixed deafener and blinds.
The horse also wore different hopples last Friday after Butcher reported they felt a little tight the previous week.
Green is not convinced they got the hopple length right second time either, the straps looking a little long.
“I’ll school him up a bit in the next week, and adjust the hopples, and hopefully next time we can give him a bit more confidence. But he is very green and nervous - he’d jump if you dropped something beside him.’’
Zealand Star is last but under a big hold by David Butcher with nowhere to go.Earlier in the night Green was left lamenting about the bad luck encountered by Butterworth’s second runner, Zealand Star, who never saw clear air in the run home and was hard held by David Butcher at the line, last but only 3.7 lengths from winner Solid Gold.
Butcher followed instructions not to burn the five-year-old early, Butterworth looking for a “Herlihy-like marker hugging drive” to allow the sit-sprinter to shine late.
But Butcher was trapped four deep and was still three deep turning for home, gaps never eventuating as his “death grip” tightened on the horse the closer he got to the post.
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.”
