Just Wing It has Ball Of Art, outer, covered in his first appearance at Cambridge in March. PHOTO: FokusPhotography.
Climb on board Just Wing It - all the ducks are lined up for Cambridge on Sunday
By Barry Lichter • 27 April 2019
Just Wing It has so many things going for him at Cambridge on Sunday don’t be surprised to see him touch a short price.
- He brings excellent Auckland form to a field of mostly Cambridge and Central Districts performers.
- He won on his first look at the track back in early March.
- Trainer Ray Green says he goes better left-handed.
- A win would be penalty free, it being a junior drivers’ race.
- He would earn a $1750 bonus for his second win at Cambridge in one season.
- He showed in his last start at Alexandra Park that he is right on top of his game, running third and clocking 1:55.7 on mile night - despite a torrid trip.
Just Wing It had every reason to weaken out of it on April 12 after starting from the outside of the gate, a near mission impossible over a mile at Auckland.
Forced to snag back to the rear, driver David Butcher found himself five back on the outer.
Andrew Drake … drives Just Wing It on Sunday.Tagging on to the back of Adieu Flirt at the 700m, he enjoyed a brief cover three wide until pacing roughly at the 500 and losing his spot to eventual runner-up Ball Of Art.
That saw him pushed five wide turning for home, yet he still powered up and closed strongly, until flattening out 100 metres from home.
His effort to finish just one and a quarter lengths from winner Crackared was full or merit, as he clocked by far the fastest last 800 metres in the race - 57.4, compared with Crackared’s 59.3 and Ball Of Art’s 58.1.
The run continued a sequence of solid efforts at Auckland since joining Green’s Lincoln Farms’ stable, form which reads much better than his opposition.
Sunday will be the first time Just Wing It has attempted 2700 metres but the way he finished resolutely in his first win at Cambridge to beat Ball Of Art suggested stable junior Andrew Drake can get another 500 metres out of him.
The unknown quantity in the field is southerner Ideal Rule whose game last start third over 2600 metres on a slushy Addington track gives him some claims.
An Art Major four-year-old, raced by Australian Merv Butterworth, Just Wing It is a younger half brother to Central Districts cups king The Night Hawk who has bagged the Hawera Cup, Taranaki Cup, Manawatu Cup and Palmerstonian in recent months for Scott Dickson.
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Our runners this week
Friday night at Auckland
Kevin Kline, What’s Up The Hill, Sugar Ray Lincoln, Lincoln Lou, Debbie Lincoln, Colonel Lincoln, Frisco Bay.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
6.07pm
“He didn’t go very well in his workout right-handed last Thursday but he was good on Saturday when we trained him left-handed. It’s his first race for three months so he could possibly need it but we’re talking Manawatu opposition.”
Race 7: Onyx Shard
7.01pm
“She’s absolutely a winning chance. She showed that last time when she had to do a fair bit to hold the lead. Fergie is driving her this time and we’re pretty confident she’ll go well. She’s such a well-gaited mare.”
Race 8: Lincoln La Moose
7.25pm
“He dominated them last time from the outside of the gate and, even though he can be in and out, he’ll be hard to beat again. That easier opposition makes a difference when there’s nothing good enough to eye-ball you. “
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
6.50pm
“He was very unlucky on night one. The gap sort of opened up then closed again and I had to take hold. He was still charging to the line and if the gap had come he would have been right there with the winner. If he can step and lead, then slot into the trail, he should be a winning chance.”
Race 6: Onyx Shard
7.17pm
“Ferg said she wasn’t on the bit the whole way on Tuesday, was too relaxed. We’ll take the block blinds off this time and put half blinds on and see if that helps. She had to do a bit of work in the run on Tuesday but it doesn’t seem to have knocked her around. The outside draw makes it harder.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
7.39pm
“He looks our best chance of the night. He’s definitely a different horse down here and he obviously likes it in front. Ferg didn’t pull the plugs the other night and that tells you something. He’s doing everything right, I can’t fault him.”
