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 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 6: Captain Nemo
9.40pm NZ time
“I rate him a good top three chance. I’m really happy with the horse. It’s a decent drop in grade for him and I think maybe we roll the dice, go forward, and take our chances. As long as he doesn’t have to burn stupidly off the gate, if he can find the top, they’ll know he’s in the race.”
