Tony Herlihy salutes on Simply Sam after he beat Zarias at Auckland last July. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Class drop, small field, Zac on, everything points to Simply Sam scoring at Cambridge
By Barry Lichter • 31 May 2023
Simply Sam’s ordinary looking formline disguises how well he’s going and against weaker opposition at Cambridge on Friday night he’s a terrific winning chance.
A rating 65 pacer on a R51 front, Simply Sam starts from a 25 metre handicap over the sprint trip of 2200 metres, never an easy task, but check out just how well he’s been racing.
In five runs this prep Simply Sam has:
* Finished just 1.6 lengths fourth at Auckland last week after being parked for the last 1300 metres in a much stronger field behind Chimichurri, Magic Four and Montana DJ.
* Run sixth at Auckland on April 28, rated a certainty beaten by Green when he tried to mount a run from last on the home turn, meeting roadblocks wherever he went, but still running the best equal closing sectionals in the race. He finished hard on the back of runner-up Mr Kaplan in a slick 2:40.2, driver Blair Orange not even activating the deafeners.
* Finished ninth at Auckland on April 21 from the outside of the second row, forced to make his run three then four wide and unable to make ground on the leaders in the straight, winner Bach clocking a slick 2:39.2.
* Run third in his last appearance at Cambridge on April 14 when he started from a 20 metre handicap in the Country Cup (2700m). He was forced four wide when mounting his run and came even wider on the home turn, charging down the stretch to be beaten only a head and a neck.
* Run 10th first-up, against the cup horses at Cambridge on April 6 when he led the Waikato Flying Mile field, absorbing huge pressure before weakening behind Self Assured, Copy That, Akuta and Old Town Road in a 1:52 sizzle.
The winner of six races, Simply Sam stands out against his rivals on Friday night, Green declaring him hard fit.
“I think he’s a good winning chance. I didn’t want him put in the race too soon last week because he hadn’t raced for a while but I think Blair (Orange) thought they were going too slow and he ended up parked for the last 1300 metres.
”He’s well down in class here and, even though he’s on 25 metres, it’s only a small field.”
Top tactician Zachary Butcher takes the reins on Simply Sam for only the second time.
Butcher will also be in the hot seat on Green’s own horse My Copy who looks the next best chance of Lincoln Farms’ five starters.
The four-year-old half-brother of stable star Copy That has endured a string of poor draws in his last five starts, with 11, 10, 12, 10 and six.
Green is confident Butcher can get My Copy out fast from the pole on Friday night and stay handy in the running.
“He’s going good races with no luck and looks a chance.”
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Debbie Lincoln
5.26pm
“She had to sit parked most of the way last time but still went well, and that’s what she does. She’s proven to be a very promising filly and, while it’s hard these days to win without a good trip, it’s an even field and she’s a good chance again.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lou
5.55pm
“He probably cost himself a win last week by going roughly, but he can do that. If he’d got Frisco Bay’s trip he would have won with his closing quarters of 56 and 27 the fastest in the race. He’s just got to do things right to be the one to beat, even from the bad draw, as it’s an easier field.”
Race 5: Frisco Bay
7.30pm
“He’s up in grade a bit but I don’t think there’s anything between them. He’s just got to get the right run and, with his speed, he’ll be right in it.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.59pm
“He’s no superstar but he’s very honest and he’s always a place chance as he’s a tough bugger, he sat parked last week.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.59pm
“With a similar run to last week, he’d be right in it. He clocked 55.8 and 27.7, doing his best work at the finish. He hasn’t gone a bad race since he’s come back.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.59pm
“I wasn’t expecting him to do anything on debut as he’s a green, young horse. But he went very well so he’s obviously lifted his game for the occasion. And he’s trained on even better so the experience has enhanced him. From the inside he has to be a good chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.59pm
“She’s definitely a better animal left-handed but she was passable right-handed and should go better this time. She’s got some speed.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.59pm
“She’s a nice filly but is behind the others. I don’t expect her to beat anything but she needs the experience.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
8.59pm
“There won’t be any shadows for her to jump this time so she has to be a serious chance. She’d been dominant at the workouts and trials before her debut but didn’t get the chance to show her true worth.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.59pm
“Fergie was quite impressed with him on debut and requested the drive again. He finished on strongly up the lane and should go well again. He just needs some luck from the outside of the gate.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 3: Argyle
9.04pm NZ time
“I thought his last two starts have been terrific. There’s no doubt this race is tougher, and he has trickier draw, but I was talking to Angus last night and he was quite upbeat about his chances. He said the horse gave him a good feel when he sat parked two starts back and he picked him too (in the draft). But it won’t be easy. There could be a bit of pressure early. I think he’ll come out and see what unfolds and, if there is too much pressure, he’ll drive him quietly.”
Ray’s comments
Sunday at Manawatu
Race 1: Onyx Shard
5.29pm
“You can put a line through her last run at Cambridge when she pulled up showing signs of a respiratory infection. She had a couple of weeks off after that and, while she hasn’t trialled since, she’s been training down nicely. She’s a nice filly and from the good draw should really win.”
Race 3: Lincoln La Moose
6.19pm
“He wasn’t far away in the amateur race at Auckland last time despite jumping a shadow early and galloping. This is a decent drop in class for him and he should be very competitive.
