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.
More news in Harness
Friday night’s main event: In the blue corner, Tyson, in the red corner, Sugar Ray
After 40 years in the sulky, Fergie’s just loving his renaissance in the lincoln green silks
Big-spending Mike Tanev snares The Rascal and he’s off to Canada next week
Dreams Of Eric goes from black and blue to blue and white, now for Harness 5000
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
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.”
