Leap To Fame leads last week’s derby heat with Simply Sam sitting three back in the running line.
Draw gods smile on Simply Sam giving Ray hope he can give the Derby hotpots a fright
By Barry Lichter • 5 October 2022
Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green knows how hard it is to win a Victoria Derby but, after the draw gods smiled on him this week, he is hoping Simply Sam can give the favourites a fright on Saturday night.
Green has tilted at Victoria’s rich classic with two of Lincoln Farms’ best pacers, triple derby winner Badlands Bute running fifth in 2005, after sitting parked, and Sir Lincoln a certainty beaten when second in 2010.
More recently, Line Up won the derby just weeks after being sent to Australia.
This years’ contest will see Simply Sam face a speedy crop but after the improving pacer drew the pole, Green’s hopes lifted a little.
“If he could sit on their backs, he might hopefully give them a fright. He’ll certainly get his chance.”
Green can see Grant Dixon charging across from five on heat runner-up Leap To Fame and, in the perfect scenario, driver Nathan Jack could then get a perfect trail with Simply Sam behind the Queenslander.
“Nathan said he got out of the gate quite well the other day and he thinks he should be able to hold up in front early. Hopefully we’re not crossed by too many. Even three fence would be good.”
Simply Sam has to come three wide round a tiring rival in last week’s derby heat with Captain Ravishing and Leap To Fame well clear.Green said Jack reported Simply Sam was still improving and paced his best race this campaign in last week’s derby heat when third, albeit 17 metres behind Leap To Fame.
“He was held up behind one and had to come three wide round the turn. By then the others had gone. From there he lost no ground and he may have even picked up some.”
The official sectionals showed Sam running his last mile in 1:55.97, 800 metres in 53.98 and 400 in 26.9, excellent going considering he travelled an extra 33 metres during the race.
Leap To Fame, by comparison, clocked 53.48 and 26.61, travelling only an extra 18 metres during the race.
Exceptional winner Captain Ravishing sprinted home in 53.22 and 26.52, covering an extra 40 metres from the second row.
Captain Ravishing will again have to work hard from the second row and Green is hoping he’ll go round and attack, setting up the chance of the favourites cutting each other’s throats.
Tough task for Brisbane-bound Argyle
Sam’s stablemate Argyle, who did not make the final after being run down to ninth last week, lines up earlier in the night in the second race where on R71 he is clearly the lowest rated in the rating 70 to 89 field.
Under the preferential barrier draw conditions, that gives him the ace draw, gifting him the chance to once again adopt his favourite pacemaking role.
“That’s the perfect draw for him but, realistically, in that field he’s only a runner’s chance,” Green said.
Green revealed it was planned, subject to the agreement of Lincoln Farms’ partners in the horse, to dispatch Argyle north to Brisbane next week.
“That’s where he needs to be. I don’t see any point in bringing him home where he’ll have to race against the best horses.”
In Queensland, under the care of Mark Dux, Argyle would be well placed with his gate speed to put plenty more money in the kitty before he reached free-for-all class.
Copy That in great condition
Meanwhile, Green is very hopeful that Copy That will take his place in Saturday night’s A$300,000 Victoria Cup despite having a minor bleed last week.
“He’s in great condition. I can’t fault him. He looks perfect. There’s no coughing or any indication he’s trying to push stuff out of his lungs. He’s getting all the medication we can legally give him to help with that.
“The stewards are coming tomorrow when we’re going to scope him, and they’re bringing their vet with them, but I can’t imagine there being any problem. And if there is, we wouldn’t want to race him anyway.
“If he passes their scrutiny, he’ll race and he’s got the best draw you could hope for. Better Eclipse will get out from one and go as hard as he can and Copy That should get a lovely suck along behind him.
“With his kind of speed, if he gets a run through, he’ll be right on them. We just need a little bit of luck.”
Argyle races at 8.32pm NZ time at Melton on Saturday night.
Simply Sam races at 10.33pm NZ time at Melton on Saturday night.
Providing he scopes clean, Copy That will race at 11.39pm NZ time at Melton on Saturday night.
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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.
