$50K? You’re kidding! Ray knocks back bid for EFTPOS card Double Or Nothing
Double Or Nothing might not have won a race yet but trainer Ray Green isn’t about to let the circling sharks get him for unders.
Green knocked back an offer of $50,000 from Melbourne today, saying the horse is much better than that.
And even if he only racks up another placing at Auckland on Friday night, Green reckons the Sweet Lou three-year-old is racing well enough to justify his place at Lincoln Farms.
“He’s a nice horse who’s never missed a cheque in his life and not many do that.”
In 13 starts, nine as a two-year-old, Double or Nothing has earned $24,335, running six seconds, four thirds and three fourths, averaging $1872 per start, a tally Linclon Farms and its partners Rod and Sue Fleming, Bob Best and Neville McAlister aren’t complaining about.
Green has seen nothing to suggest Double Or Nothing won’t continue his earning streak on Friday when he starts from two on the second row in the fifth race.
From a much worse draw last week, the gelding turned in a solid effort, driver David Butcher easing back to last before mounting his run three wide with cover from the 800 metres.
And while he came up three and three-quarter lengths short in third place, his sectionals were the best in the race - 1:59.5 for his last mile and 55.3 for his last half, easily eclipsing the winner Brydon Earl (55.7) and runner-up Cloud Break (56.6).
On Friday he follows out Brent Mangos’ Jetson Hunter who has not raced since February but won a workout at Cambridge last Saturday.
Bettor My Dreamz looks a strong winning chance in the seventh race, dropping right back in grade.
From taking on the best horses in the north a few starts back, he gets into a rating 56 to 67 race as a rating 67 horse.
And his effort to run fourth last week to Ball Of Art, Matai Geordie and stablemate Line Up was full of merit after being three wide for the first 400 metres then parked for the rest of the trip.
He was still disputing the lead 150 metres from home and never gave up trying for driver David Butcher.
“He’s a serious chance,” says Green. “He’s got an awkward draw in seven but you know he can do a bit of work if he has to. With just a bit of luck he can do the business.”
Two starts back Bettor My Dreamz led a far stronger line-up including Solid Gold, Blazen River, Check In and Dance Time, clocking a 1:54.5 mile.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 9: Kevin Kline
9.55pm
“When Maurice asked him to go at the top of the straight at Cambridge he got lost and didn’t quite know what to do. He wound up well in the end but just left it a little late. He’ll learn from that and should go well again.”
Race 10: Debbie Lincoln
10.22pm
“She has ability but she’s a work in progress. She’s fast but she needs to harness it. She gets a little claustrophobic when they come around her so the mission on Friday will be to get round without her doing anything stupid. She’s a much stronger individual now than when she started off in April.”