Whiz On Bye has drawn to show his Auckland debut run was all wrong. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
Two recent workout wins show Whiz On Bye much better than his inglorious debut
By Barry Lichter • 22 December 2021
Whiz On Bye hardly knew where to put his feet on debut at Alexandra Park last month, beating only a couple home and finishing 25 lengths from the winner.
But Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green reckons it’s best to simply put the line through that run when assessing his chances at Cambridge on Christmas Eve.
“He’s a work in progress but from his good barrier draw (three) he looks the best of our four chances,” says Green.
“He’s a typical American Ideal - they take a few starts to find their feet - and he’s getting better and better.”
Green says the two-year-old colt has been training and trialling much better since his inglorious debut, when he worked hard to find the death seat then paced very roughly at various intervals, losing contact with the pack.
Whiz On Bye has won both his workouts in the interim, posting a useful mile rate of 2:03 in the latest on December 11 when he led throughout for Andrew Drake to beat Tuscon Tiger and American Legacy.
“He’s a chance if he races up to that form,” Green said.
Whiz On Bye, who will be driven by Zachary Butcher on Friday, has the bloodlines to eventually make an impact being out of the family of dual New Zealand Cup winner Il Vicolo.
His dam Vivacious Madonna is a half sister to Stunin Cullen (19 wins), Coburg (10 wins) and Temepara Cullen (5 wins).
Green is looking for an improved showing from Nirvana Franco (race two) whom he admits has been disappointing.
Ruunner-up on debut at Cambridge in August she has hasn’t had the best of luck in three subsequent starts.
“But she still hasn’t lived up to her earlier promise. She hasn’t shown us yet what she feels like in training.”
Nirvana Franco got herself into a hopeless position early last start at Auckland after pacing roughly and breaking briefly on the first bend.
She was doing her best work late for fifth, pacing the fastest last quarter in the race, albeit only 31.3.
The opposition is easier on Friday but she will still need luck from six on the gate.
Bet On The Tiger has his first try left-handed on Friday. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Bet On The Tiger has fared even worse in the barrier draw for race six, on the outside of the front line.
“It won’t be easy from out there but he’s been training and trialling very well left-handed.
“He’ll go an honest race.”
From five, Green is hoping Louie The Punter can cross and make the front in the 11th race.
“If he made the front he’d be a chance. He tends to pull a bit hard when he doesn’t and he’s not a nice horse to drive when he’s parked.
“He’ll need a bit of luck against Cran Dalgety’s two-year-old Casino Action.”
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Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: The Night Fox
5.44pm
“From a good front line draw Harry can run off the gate and find the front. He’s shown he’s got the speed to get there. And if he can go 2:42 again, or quicker, I thought he’d be a very good winning chance. It’s an easier field than the one he beat last time. He’s trained well this week.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
6.09pm
“She goes down to Cambridge for the first time so it’s a big drop in class. She also goes a lot better left-handed so I thought from the good draw she could run top three.”
Race 3: Lincoln Maree
6.34pm
“She paced a 1:56.7 mile in beating the amateurs last start but it looks like she’ll need a bit of luck from the draw this time. The two inside her like to lead so she could end up three fence or outside them. I’ll leave it up to Harry to get the right trip.”
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.34pm
“He’s a place chance. He likes bowling along but from five it’s hard to say where he’ll end up. He’s very consistent and he paced 2:42.3 last time so I can absolutely see him in the money.”
Race 6: Lincoln Linda
8.04pm
“She was in a very strong R40 to R48 race last time at Auckland against horses like Alecto, All Of Me and Cyclone Rebel, and she clocked 2:41.1, so back to Cambridge where she won her first race, and a much easier R38 to R40 field, she’s got to be a good winning chance. She’s best in front if Fergie can get there.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
4.42pm
“I’m not holding my breath with him. We won’t count that last run, when the leader went ballistic and he couldn’t get into the race, but he’s not well placed here.”
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.09pm
“She’s racing really well and this looks a bit easier than last time when she was trapped in the breeze in a strong field. I can’t see how she won’t be right in the fight.”
Race 7: Missy Lincoln
7.34pm
“I didn’t know what to expect on debut but she was very brave. I’m picking she’ll go well again but she’ll need a bit of luck - drawn the second line we’re at the mercy of others. We’ll poke her out and see. At least she won’t get parked this time.”
Race 10: Lincoln Wave
9.07pm
“We’re racing the best horses now but he’ll definitely go better than last time. Tony (Herlihy) said he felt super across the top but once in the straight he flattened out, which I half expected. I had him scoped afterwards just to make sure he was all right but he was short of a run, that’s all.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
9.07pm
“He went super when third last week and Fergie said just wait ’til he gets over 2700 metres, he’ll be a monster. He’s turned into a proper racehorse. From four there’ll be a bit of urgency early and hopefully he can get a suck along and get some of it.”
