Was I right all along? Ray ponders the Recco Lover puzzle

“I’m starting to think I was right all along.’’

That was trainer Ray Green’s first reaction to tonight’s upset win at Alexandra Park by Recco Lover when he ran down white hot favourite Mach Shard short of the line to win the Derby Night Handicap.

Having his first standing start, the four-year-old began like he’d been doing it all his life and quickly secured the trail behind Mach Shard, who looked home for all money when driver Zachary Butcher stole an early 34 quarter over the 2200 metre sprint.

But Butcher, well familiar with Recco Lover’s patchy form - as he works for the horse’s Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green - got the surprise of his life when Recco Lover, driven by his dad David, collared him up the passing lane to win by half a head.

Trainer Ray Green, wife Debbie and eager young helper Matthew Hjalmarsson pose with Recco Lover in the winner’s circle tonight.Green was understandably chuffed afterwards, given he has been defending the ability of Recco Lover since some of his early three-year-old feats.

“He’s always been a good horse,’’ says Green. “Maybe he’s just an immature horse who’s needed time and is finally starting to rise to the occasion.’’

Green originally thought he had a real gun on his hands when he nearly beat King Of Swing in a Sires’ Stakes heat at Cambridge then ran a herculean fifth in Chase Auckland’s Final, running interstellar sectionals then locking wheels and dragging third-placed Cullenburn over the line with him.

Speed bumps

But there have been plenty of speed bumps along the way since which have caused him to doubt the horse.

“I expected plenty of the horse and, yes, I was disappointed two or three times and was starting to think maybe I hadn’t read him right.

“But he’s also had a few lameness issues too, mainly immaturity things like sore stifles and soft bones.

“But we haven’t had to do any vet work on him for a while so perhaps he’s just grown up.’’

Frustratingly for Lincoln Farms and the big team of owners who shared in the partnership, Recco’s Lover’s newfound form has come too late. To make room for the new draft of sale yearlings, a truckload of which arrived from Christchurch earlier today, he was among a number of horses who were sold in January.

David Butcher, in the blue and yellow diamonds of owner Emilio Rosati, brings Recco Lover back to scale. PHOTO: Race Images.Recco Lover now carries the increasingly familiar blue and yellow diamonds of Australian owners Emilio and Mary Rosati, who recently also bought speedy two-year-old Line Up and also race Perfect Stride from Lincoln Farms’ Pukekohe stable.

Green says Recco Lover now deserves a shot at the big four-year-old Group I features coming up at Auckand, the $100,000 Taylor Mile on April 26 and $100,000 Messenger on May 3.

“The next level could find him right out so we won’t get too carried away yet,’’ says Green.

“They all look good going past trees and I don’t think he beat anything special tonight. It wasn’t a wonderful field and he had the two hole trip (trail). Mach Shard might also not be the horse he’s been touted as.

“And of course we will have to contend with Mark’s ones (Mark Purdon’s All Stars) in the four-year-old races. We’ll have to beat them before I get too excited. When he gives them a fright, we’ll sit up and take notice.’’

Nevertheless Green was heartened by the sectionals Recco Lover clocked, confirming his predictions that the horse would be very competitive. In running the 2200 metre stand in 2:47.7, he rattled off his closing 800 metres in 54.6 and 400 in 26.7, good times in the showery conditions.

Green said it wasn’t surprising that Recco Lover had paced some of his best race on the front end.

“You don’t get any money if you sit way back these days. You’re dead in the water. It doesn’t matter what horse you are.’’

A mud-splattered Tony Herlihy reports on Zealand Star’s run.Rapt with Star

That’s way he was also rapt with the effort of Zealand Star who closed late for fourth, seven lengths from his stablemate after failing to make a clean beginning.

Having only his second standing start and first for a year, Zealand Star actually began well, the fastest of anything, according to driver only Herlihy.

“But he got lost soon afterwards.’’

By the time Zealand Star came down pacing he was a distant second last and, even though he eventually secured the one-one, he found the task of catching the leaders beyond him.