Zealand Star just needs a little luck from the outside of the gate on Friday night.
Undercheck should help the real Zealand Star front up at Cambridge
By Barry Lichter • 2 January 2019
A key gear change and a big drop in class point to Zealand Star turning his form around at Cambridge on Friday night.
Zealand Star disgraced himself at Alexandra Park on New Year’s Eve when expected to go a big race, breaking for the second start on end just before the mobile release.
The horse lost his chance to trail the pacemaking winner American Empress when he started pulling in the score-up for Zachary Butcher, and his head got higher and higher, unbalancing him and sending him into a gallop.
Trainer Ray Green will fit an undercheck on Friday to prevent a repeat.
“He apparently had the same problem in the South Island but hopefully the undercheck will sort that out.’’
Zealand Star’s formline in race six might look a bit sick on paper but he has been going excellent races in much stronger company at Auckland and drops to an extremely winnable rating 54 to 63 event this week.
Butcher will have to find a winning route from the outside of the gate this time, however, after he was placed on the unruly list by the stewards. But he only has to find a smother and get a little luck at the right time to be right in the fight.
Phil Bromac’s inexperience will be against him but he does have a bit of speed.Cautious on debut
Green says he’s not expecting too much from race one debutant Phil Bromac from his second line draw.
“He’s very green and will probably need the experience but he does have some speed and if he got the right trip he could still get the money.’’
Phil Bromac will start from two on the second row, following out the perennial placegetter Mr Incredible, the choice of drive by Lincoln Farms’ No.1 reinsman Zachary Butcher.
The three-year-old goes into the race well schooled with seven workouts and two trials, having shown a sprinkling of speed along with his greenness.
In his latest appearance at Pukekohe last Saturday he ran a faultless third behind Kolovos, a debut winner for Jeremy Young at Auckland in July.
And Phil Bromac did a lot more work than Kolovos in the running, pulling out from fifth at the 700 metre mark to sit parked, while Kolovos enjoyed the sweet trail behind leader Cheddar’s Princess throughout.
Phil Bromac did well for his placing given the closing sectionals were 58.6 and a slick 26.9.
By Washington VC, Phil Bromac is out of the Falcon Seelster mare Amaretto Bromac who did not win in five starts but his great grand dam Ar Miss left the champion racemare Armalight.
More news in Harness
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Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
A picture of Bliss but poor Harry’s arms were nearly pulled out of their sockets
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.22pm
“She got home really well on the second night at Manawatu and gets a good draw here. There’s not much exposed form in the race so it’s hard to know how she compares but she’ll win one.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Debbie Lincoln
7.01pm
“I thought she went super again last week with no luck and we’ve got a decent draw for a change so you have to like her chances. She’s been getting in on the corners, so we’ve added a Murphy blind.”
Race 3: Tyson
7.01pm
“I was impressed by the way he hung on to Captain Sampson and Greased Lightnin last week. They’re strong sprinters and it was only a sprint up the straight. He’ll need things to go his way from six.”
Race 3: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.01pm
“It was his first run for a while last week and he probably needed another trial. But we thought we might as well race him to set him up for this week. The outside draw of eight doesn’t help.”
Race 9: Lincoln Lover
9.55pm
“He’s not as sharp as our other two but he’s a game little bugger. He’ll win races for sure.”
Race 9: Prince Lincoln
9.55pm
“I thought he went really well last week. He’d had only one trial and was a bit fresh so it was understandable that he got tired the last bit. That will tighten him up and I’m expecting him to race well. He’s trained on well since.”
Race 9: Johnny Lincoln
9.55pm
“Prince has the wood on Johnny but he’ll still go well. He found the line well last week. It was his first run for a while too, and his first as a gelding.”
