Little Themightyserina in full flight turning for home at Pukekohe last Saturday.
Themightyserina has some mighty big shoes to fill but she can ace her Cambridge debut
By Barry Lichter • 2 December 2020
She’s only knee high to a grasshopper but Themightyserina strikes a winnable race for her debut at Cambridge on Thursday night, trainer Ray Green liking the fact there are no champions against her.
The only champion actually appears in the pedigree of the American Ideal filly, whose dam Themightykendall is a full sister to one of Australasia’s best pacers of the last few decades, Themightyquinn.
Themightykendall was the very next foal breeder Dave Kennedy got out of Love Sign after Themightyquinn who won 58 races and more than A$4.5 million.
And while she doesn’t have the physique to achieve those heights, little Serina has shown enough ability to win a few races for Lincoln Farms, and its partners Shannon Flay and Amy and Lance Myocevich.
Green didn’t even attempt to race her at two, her diminutive size and lack of strength against her.
“But she’s trialling well this time in and doing everything right so she has to be a chance in that field. From the draw (three) she should get a handy trip.”
Green primed Themightyserina for her debut with a good workout win at Pukekohe last Saturday when, after taking the lead mid-heat, she staved off a late run by fellow American Ideal filly Waitforever, who will have supporters when she debuts for Arna Donnelly at Auckland on Friday night.
While driver David Butcher reported she hadn’t shown quite as much speed as Green suspected she might have, Themightyserina was nevertheless tradesmanlike, finding the line under her own steam with a closing quarter in 28.
The foal after Themightykendall, Themightynadal, also by Washington VC, was bought by Themightyquinn’s trainer Gary Hall and won seven races in Perth.
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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.”
