Im Not The Maid collars Messenger Buoy, obscured, at Cambridge on Thursday night. PHOTO: Ange Bridson/Race Images.
Cheers Christie! Commentator in full voice for Cambridge diva Im Not The Maid
By Barry Lichter • 16 October 2024
Owners find a myriad of ways to name their horses and South Aucklander Phil Cook came up with a novel one with Im Not The Maid.
Tuesday night’s last-stride Cambridge winner got her moniker after a family fishing trip a few years ago with Cook’s daughter Christie, who keenly follows her progress now from England.
A renowned mezzo-soprano who has sung in some of the world’s most famous opera houses, Cook became miffed at being repeatedly asked to fetch beers for the boys on the boat.
Mezzo-soprano Christie Cook provided the inspiration for naming Im Not The Maid.Her protest of “I’m Not The Maid” stuck in dad’s mind and went on top of the list when it came to naming Bronze Lady’s last foal.
And the way the filly scored her second win from only eight starts, punters will hear the name recited a bit more by northern commentators.
“She’s getting better,” said Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green.
“When she was looking for a run early in the run home, and had to go so wide, I thought she might get up for third.
“But she seems to have a wee bit of speed and really sprinted that last 30 metres.”
Im Not The Maid’s late burst in the hands of Andre Poutama carried her past Messenger Buoy right on the line to claim a head margin and her fifth cheque.
“She’s definitely improving but I’m not sure if she’s good enough to go to Auckland,” Green said.
“It’s just a shame she got penalised five points for winning $4400. If they want these sort of horses to keep coming back it should be only two or three points.
“She’s a handy little mare if placed right and we might have to think about going down to Palmy.”
The first of four meetings at Manawatu next month is on November 4.
Im Not The Maid, by A Rocknroll Dance, clocked a respectable 2:43.5 for the 2200 metres, a mile rate of 1:59.5.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.40pm
“She’s going as good as she can. She’s got a bit of speed but isn’t that strong. But she should get a nice trip here and be right in the frame. She’ll win one soon.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.40pm
“She’s a big filly who has taken time to mature but she has plenty of ability. She’s a good pacer and I expect her to improve on her resuming run and go well.”
Race 1: Lincoln Dealer
5.40pm
“He’s a bit of a handful, too keen for his own good sometimes, so I’ll be happy to see him just get round and do most things right. He’s no superstar but he’s coming to it slowly but surely. We’re throwing him in the deep end here and he has a terrible draw but we have to start somewhere.”
Race 4: Lincoln Maree
7.04pm
“She’s as tough as old boots and tries like hell and you can’t ask for much more than that. She just lacks a bit of speed but has a good attitude. She usually finds one or two better than her but will make them work for it anyway.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.56pm
“He’ll be improved for the last run, has trialled and is working well, and has a better draw (the ace) this time. You just have to be a bit wary because he’s let us down a couple of times.”
Race 3: Angelic Copy
5.56pm
“She had a tie-up issue but seems much better now. It’s her first run for a while so she’ll definitely need the run. I’m just hoping she gets around all right and pulls up OK.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
5.56pm
“He’s a very capable horse, if injury prone, and he’s been back in work for three or four months. You never say never but, realistically, he’s just starting off so you can’t expect him to be at his peak.”
Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
6.55pm
“I know I said it two starts back but if there’s such a thing as a certainty, he’s it. Even from seven on the gate, everything says he’s the one to beat. If he hadn’t gone a bit goofy up the home straight last time in the Sires’ Stakes Semi at Cambridge, he’d have easily run third. This is a huge drop in class.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.58pm
“I expect he’ll be a bit sharper this time. He’s looking well and feeling good but I still think another run under his belt will be beneficial for him. He’s not one to leap out of the ground but he is capable of taking the race.”
