Line Up is cruising, well clear at the line in tonight’s Young Guns heat at Alexandra Park. PHOTO: Joel Gillan/Race Images
Zac throws down the gauntlet: Line Up’s a dude and I’m not scared of the All Stars
By Barry Lichter • 8 February 2019
“He’s a pretty serious horse and off that run I wouldn’t be too scared of Mark Purdon’s one.’’
Top driver Zachary Butcher well and truly threw down the gauntlet to All Stars’ No. 1 colt Smooth Deal with his huge rap on tonight’s brilliant debut winner Line Up.
The brother to former champion age group filly Partyon could not have been more impressive in the third Young Guns heat for colts and geldings at Alexandra Park, unleashing a burst of speed that saw him run away, untouched, from his four rivals by two and a quarter lengths.
Incredibly, the Bettor’s Delight colt made it look nothing more than a Sunday stroll in carving out his last 800 metres in 56.9 and 400 in 27.3, to win the 1700 metre race in a 1:58.5 mile rate.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been on a horse who has won so effortlessly,’’ said Butcher. “It was an armchair drive and he made me look good.
“I just like how easy it was for him. He was cruising round the bend and I didn’t ask him to go until the 200 and in three strides he went past them. And he pricked his ears ten metres off the line.’’
Zachary Butcher brings Line Up back to scale. PHOTO: Joel Gillan/Race Images.Butcher said right from when he set foot onto the track Line Up had things sorted, even though he’d never seen Alexandra Park.
“He’s a professional, such a dude. In the warm-up he was so relaxed I was slapping him up and as soon as the mobile went he came straight back to me.’’
Butcher was content to sit at the back of the field early but, in the knowledge the colt can still throw in the odd rough stride, he figured rather than challenging three wide late, he’d rather get round the field at the bell to sit parked.
“He wanted to race them when I moved but again he relaxed beautifully when I got there and sat parked. He just dropped the bit and was doing his thing.’’
Butcher said as soon as he pulled the plugs at the top of the stretch Line Up was off. And it took only a flick of the reins to get him to really step it out.
“It was a pretty good effort for a two-year-old to effortlessly run away like that when they’re going a 27.3 quarter.’’
Trainer Ray Green said it made you wonder what Line Up was capable of with more racing under his belt if he could be so dominant in his first race.
Snotty nose
And he revealed the colt had been under a slight cloud during the week with a snotty nose, making his run even more remarkable.
Green wasn’t at all surprised by the rare brand of speed Line Up showed, the colt having improved in leaps and bounds in the last few weeks, showing high speed in his trials, prompting both Green and Butcher to suspect he could be the best of their babies.
That saw Line Up change hands for big money two weeks ago and he now races in the colours of Australian Emilio Rosati, who will also have Perfect Stride in the $100,000 Young Guns Final at Auckland on March 8.
Butcher was cheekily non-committal when asked which of the pair he’d prefer to drive.
Tonight’s runner-up Sir Tiger will also go on to the Final but even though he was given a perfect trip in the trail by Andre Poutama, he lacked the high speed of his stablemate to take advantage of the passing lane.
Young Guns series sponsors Karen and Ken Breckon, to the right of the dress rug, share in the celebrations with Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green, second from left, and other stable supporters.“He’s a lovely horse,’’ said Green. “He lacks big speed but he’s very tough and he’ll end up a tidy horse.’’
Pacemaker Double Or Nothing again lacked any final zip in the run home and after finishing fourth, 3.2 lengths from the winner, driver David Butcher recommended Green tip him out for a break.
A long time king of the Lincoln Farms babies, he has dropped off the pace since being gelded and lightening up in condition.
“I think we’ll give him a month off,’’ Green said.
The fourth of the Lincoln Farms runners, Copy That, who was parked early then enjoyed the one-one trail, “couldn’t go with them when they sprinted,’’ said Green, finishing another 1.2 lengths away in fifth.
“I think I’ve taken his hopples up too much.’’
More news in Harness
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34 more meetings in the north next season as Auckland reclaims Friday nights
No way to sugar coat it - it’s tricky to predict what Sugar Ray will do on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
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.”
