Simply Sam is going too strongly for the late-closing Zarias at Alexandra Park. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Up-and-comer Simply Sam shows he has other strings to his bow with brilliant win
By Barry Lichter • 1 July 2022
Driver Maurice McKendry tried a different playbook with Simply Sam at Auckland on Thursday night and it shed a whole new light on the promising pacer.
Not only did it show the horse can be used earlier in a race, it revealed he is also tough enough to sprint several times in the running and still win.
This was a whole new Simply Sam, not the one-dimensional one who had previously always fallen out of the gate and mounted a big late run from the rear.
And in bagging his fourth win from only 10 starts, the three-year-old proved to McKendry and Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green that he is becoming a real racehorse.
Maurice McKendry … new playbook and perfect result.McKendry suggested to Green on leaving the barn that he might try pushing the button when the field was dispatched, given he was drawn favourably in five for a change.
Simply Sam found enough speed to be fourth early and all but secured the one-one possie, just beaten to it by Zarias who speared up fast underneath him into the first turn.
“He felt quite good and felt like he could get out even better,” McKendry said.
McKendry’s second experiment came at the 1200 metre mark when the pace slowed and he opted to pull out from three back in the running line.
Simply Sam effortlessly looped the field to sit in the death, where McKendry said he relaxed immediately.
“I thought they’d sprint home quickly so I’d get him up closer so he didn’t have to bust his guts. When he got upside the leader he dropped the bit beautifully. That’s another string to his bow.”
Simply Sam’s next new test came down the back straight when Wild Card charged up from the rear to attack for the lead three wide, McKendry asking his horse to kick up between Wild Card and leader Makara to stop the challenger from crossing.
Trainer Ray Green … buoyed by the effort.Despite the tempo upping to 27.9 in the back straight quarter, Simply Sam was still good enough to find more and stave off a late challenge from Zarias to score by half a neck in 2:43.3.
“He’s getting better all the time and starting to become a racehorse,” McKendry said.
“He did it nicely in the end.”
The performance buoyed Green and justified his confidence in McKendry as one of the best in educating young horses early in the careers.
The win took Simply Sam’s career tally to four wins and three placings for $36,829 in stakes for John and Lynne Street, Kim Miller, Robert and Donna Best, Priscilla Edmunds, the Red and Blue Syndicate and the Green Machine Racing Syndicate.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
6.38pm
“I’m not sure where she’s at. It’s a big drop in class - there’s not much in there - but I don’t think she’ll morph into a star. She was hitting the sulky wheels last time and over-racing but that won’t happen again.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.36pm
“She paced roughly last time but we’ve done a bit of work on her since so she should be happier this time. It depends on the trip she gets (from four) but she’ll go an honest race. She’s no superstar, but she doesn’t miss many cheques.”
Race 8: Copy N Paste
8.45pm
“He’s dour and tradesman-like but he’s getting there. It’s his first time off the place, and the trip will improve him, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him competitive in what is a very weak field. Sometimes you don’t know what the Bettors Delights have got until they front up at the races but he trialled well and beat a couple who are against him here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.53pm
“He actually tried last time. He’s a nice horse but can change his mind quickly. Full blinds woke him up last time so we’ll see if he responds to them again this time.”
Race 3: Omaha Lincoln
5.46pm
“I think he’ll go a good race but it’s his first time at Alexandra Park so I don’t want to talk him up too much. He’s got enough ability to win a race like this, whether he’s ready to do it, we’ll find out. He can get a bit keen at times but I think he’s a chance if he does everything right.”
Race 5: Spiritual Bliss
6.54pm
“It was another great run last time after leading and she’s a good, tough mare who will go another good race. What trip she gets will determine where she finishes. From five, I’m picking she might go back this time but I’ll leave that up to the driver (Harrison Orange).”
Race 6: Sharpe Stride
7.24pm
“He’s a nice trotter, a big strong colt. He can get a bit hot but there’s nothing wrong with how he goes. He’s certainly not good enough to deal with these but he’s there for a run around.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.57pm
“He’s racing in career-best form and they were struggling for runners so I put him in. He gets a starting fee of $1750 so we won’t go home empty-handed. I’m really happy with him, he’s handling right-handed racing better these days. But he’s racing the bear cats so I’m not suggesting for a second he’ll give them a fright.”
Race 10: Colonel Lincoln
9.25pm
“I thought he went super last time. It was a vast improvement on the previous two starts and you’ve got to remember he was out for a long time. He’s coming to it now and improving all the time. I couldn’t label him but I’d be surprised if he’s not in the first three or four. He’s trained on well and gets a front row draw.”
Race 10: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.25pm
“He was given too much to do last time - up to park at the bell - and you can’t drive the ears off them every time. With a more conservative trip he’d be right in it.”
