The Big Lebowski has a Spring in his step but standing start could trip him on Friday night

Trainer Ray Green is hoping two gear changes will help The Big Lebowski get away from a stand when he resumes from a long spell in Friday night’s $40,000 Spring Cup at Alexandra Park.

Green’s confidence that the strapping pacer would behave behind the tapes took a hit at last week’s Pukekohe workouts when he completely bombed the start and tailed the field home by a distance.

And when he gave the comeback seven-year-old some standing start practice during the week, he was no better.

“The more I did, the sillier he got, so it turned out to be not such a good ploy,” Green said.

Green is hoping that by using an overcheck on the horse on Friday night, it will stop him from getting his head between his legs, the reason driver Tony Herlihy gave for the horse refusing to settle into a pace.

“He gets a bit wound up but I’ve also put hopple shorteners on him so we’ll see if that helps.

“I’m sure he’s up to them if he gets away well but we can’t afford to spot them 150 yards at the start.”

Green said while The Big Lebowski has been away from the track for so long recovering from the tendon injury which stopped him in July, 2023, he’s happy with his fitness level.

“I’d say he’s plenty fit enough. He’s not a horse who takes a lot of work.”

Anyone who had forgotten The Big Lebowski’s ability only had to watch his first workout on September 5 when he led all the way - from the mobile - to beat race rival Jolimont and Village Rebel.

“There’s no doubt he has the raw ability to compete at the top level - you could see that from the few runs he had up here last year.”

First-up in the north for Melbourne owners Merv and Meg Butterworth, The Big Lebowski was a spectacular winner, clearing out to score by 11 lengths in a lightning 2:38.4 for 2200 metres.

And his run for eighth in the Auckland Cup (3200m) at his next start was far better than it looked on paper.

Settling last after scrambling away from his first standing start, he was still there turning for home yet finished hard on the backs of the placegetters with Herlihy unable to find a way through.

Bookies have The Big Lebowski a $61 outsider for the Spring Cup, not surprising against Merlin and co, but Green believes he can outrun that quote.

“We’re just relying on him stepping so you have to take him on trust.”

Lincoln Lou … drawn to lead the Sires’ Stakes heat again. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.Speedy beginner

Green has no worries about the starting ability of Lincoln Lou ($3.80) in the $30,000 Sires’ Stakes heat earlier in the night, the little colt’s high speed from the mobile sure to see him lead from gate five.

Lincoln Lou had to burn quite a lot of petrol to make the front from eight in the first Sires’ Stakes heat two weeks ago, which left him vulnerable late, Captain Sampson gobbling him up near the line.

“He looks well placed here,” Green said, noting his main opposition was mostly on the second row.

“He’s a speedy little horse and he only has to repeat what he did last time to be the one to beat.

“We don’t do much with him in between races but he trained strongly the other morning.”

Green is expecting another good run from Sugar Ray Lincoln ($14) who has drawn alongside his stablemate in six.

Green said he suspected Maurice McKendry would drive the colt similarly to last time, when he looped the field mid-race to sit parked and fought strongly for fourth.

Credited with the second fastest opening half of 60.5, Sugar Ray dug in bravely in the run home to be only 3.3 lengths from the winner, home in 55.9 and 27.3.

“He’s not ready to leave the gate fast,” Green said. We tried it once and he flew to pieces.

“But I don’t need to tell Maurice what to do. He’s driven him enough times and will drive him how he feels.”

Green is confident Frisco Bay ($6) will go another good race in the 10th, drawn two in between his two main rivals Bazooka ($2.80) and Double Quick ($3).

The three-year-old looked to have his rivals done to a dinner last week after taking the lead a round from home, only to be collared in the last couple of strides by Louezyana.

“He just had to do a little in the mid stages when he zipped round to the lead. And once you show him daylight, you’re committed. He went a bit hard down the back. If he’d relaxed then he would have won.”

Stablemate Obadiah Dragon ($16) also did a bit much early last week, Green said, after challenging for the lead before trailing.

“Small fields can be awkward but I’d rather see him go back and use his speed at the end.”