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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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.”
