Tartan Robyn scores a decisive win at Alexandra Park on Friday night. PHOTO: Megan Liefting.
Blackout at the Park after Tartan Robyn torches rivals in final New Zealand start
By Barry Lichter • 16 April 2021
Winning a $17,500 race with Tartan Robyn at Auckland certainly warranted celebration but trainer Ray Green would have preferred it didn’t take the form of a complete blackout at Alexandra Park.
The drinks had hardly been poured in the winners’ room after Tartan Robyn’s decisive win in his last start in New Zealand than the complex was plunged into darkness.
And with a power outage throughout the entire suburb of Greenlane, and no quick resolution in sight, it didn’t take long for club officials to abandon the last two races.
“It’s a shame because I thought we could win the last race with Louie The Punter,” said Green ungearing the horse in dim emergency lighting.
“But it’s the perfect scenario for Tartan Robyn to win his last two races here. We couldn’t have wished for better.”
The $9625 winner’s purse tonight, added to his $4400 winnings from Cambridge last week, brought the horse’s earnings from seven starts since arriving in the north to $16,706 for Melbourne owners Merv and Meg Butterworth.
Ray Green … perfect finale for Tartan Robyn.“I thought when he arrived that he could win a couple of races in Auckland. He’s gone some super races previously without winning but he’s done us proud.”
Green said despite the six-year-old’s form surge there would be no change in the plan to fly the horse to Melbourne on April 28 to join the stable of Kerryn Manning.
“He’ll be rehandicapped to something like 73 after tonight which means he’d have to front up to Copy That and co and he can’t do that.
“He’ll do well over there where he can be placed much better.”
Green said driver Maurice McKendry drove the perfect race on Tartan Robyn, starting his run three wide all of 600 metres from home.
“He needs to be driven like that. He’s no champion but he keeps going. He needs a solid pace and that’s what he got tonight.
“Maurice said the race suited him - the even quarters were right up his alley.”
And when Tartan Robyn hit the front just inside the 200 metres it was all over, too late Cya Art’s passing lane challenge and American Me’s charge from the back for fourth.
It was an appropriate win for McKendry in a race named in honour of champion horseman Tony Herlihy as with 3305 wins in the cart the “magic man” lies only second to the “ice man” who has notched 3566 wins.
Tartan Robyn’s winning time was a swift 2:40.1, a mile rate of 1:57.1, with the closing 800 in 58.3 and 400 in 29.6.
Tartan Robyn, who paid a healthy $8.60, leaves New Zealand with a career record of seven wins and eight placings from 48 starts for $57,737 in stakes.
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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.”
