Draw gods smile on Simply Sam giving Ray hope he can give the Derby hotpots a fright
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.”
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.”
More news in Harness
Brace for Ray and Lincoln Farms at Cambridge but Colonel’s placing just as thrilling
Ray: Preferential draw for top fillies makes it tough for everyone else in Golden Gait series
Patient owners hoping high-priced Colonel can salute at Cambridge on Thursday night
Friday’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup all about the standing start manners of Aussie raider
Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”