Frisco Bay cruises home for Zachary Butcher at Auckland on Saturday night. PHOTO: Kirstin Farr/Race Images.
Frisco Bay explosive winner and The Big Lebowski hints at more excitement to come
By Barry Lichter • 22 September 2024
It’s too soon to know if Frisco Bay is up to tackling a derby but trainer Ray Green is liking the path the three-year-old is now on.
Once thought to be the best of Lincoln Farms’ early two-year-olds, Frisco Bay went through a stage where he got too stressed out and beat himself up.
But at Alexandra Park on Saturday night, the three-year-old took his latest prep stats to two wins and a second from four starts when he smashed his rivals in the final race.
Green particularly liked the way the gelding sat quietly in the trial for driver Zachary Butcher before exploding up the passing lane to win, untested, by a length and three-quarters in a slick 2:41.5 for the 2200 metres.
“His manners are a lot better now. For his first few races he was a bit of a runaway but now he relaxes nicely and drives well.
“Zac said he was good in behind. Round the corner when the others were whipping he said it fired him up a bit but he hung on to him until he saw daylight.
“No way they were going to beat him when he sat in the trail and he won really well in the end.
“He’s a nice horse. He always showed a bit and we thought he was our best two-year-old early on. Now he’s actually showing it.
“You’d have to think he has a lot more wins in him. I don’t know if he’s a derby horse or not. A bit of improvement could be needed for that.
“But from now on he’ll have to front up to those horses. We’ll just take it week by week and see where he takes us.”
Green, who bought the Downbytheseaside gelding for just $9000 as a weanling before going into partrnership with Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street, said there was a lot to like about the horse.
“He’s nicely gaited and has enough speed to get a good trip. I wish I had a couple more like him.”
Frisco Bay, who was originally opened at $6 by the TAB bookies, now boasts a bankroll of $44,726 from just 16 starts, with three wins and four placings.
Close fourth
Almost as pleasing on the night for Green was the big performance by The Big Lebowski to finish a close fourth in the Spring Cup (2200m).
In his first race for 15 months, and having only his second standing start, the giant pacer made a safe, if steady, beginning from the inside for champion reinsman Tony Herlihy.
And when he followed eventual winner Sooner The Bettor into the race on the home turn Green thought he looked to be going as well as anything in the field.
“He got home so well and really dug in at the finish. He was poking in between Sooner The Bettor and Merlin at the line.
“I was thrilled with the run. He’d had only one and a half trials (he broke badly at the start in the second one) and was thrown in the deep end.”
In finishing a neck, a length and a head from Sooner The Bettor, The Big Lebowski paced the trip in a swift 2:42.9.
The Big Lebowski will take his next step on a possible New Zealand Cup campaign in the $40,000 The Holmes DG (2700m) at Auckland on October 4.
Before Saturday night he sat 38th in the entry order for the November 12 feature at Addington.
More news in Harness
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Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Copy N Paste a ‘tradesman’ but look for bold debut run at Cambridge on Thursday night
Ray reveals his theory on why rank outsider Sammy Lincoln can play a hand in the derby
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
6.38pm
“I’m not sure where she’s at. It’s a big drop in class - there’s not much in there - but I don’t think she’ll morph into a star. She was hitting the sulky wheels last time and over-racing but that won’t happen again.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.36pm
“She paced roughly last time but we’ve done a bit of work on her since so she should be happier this time. It depends on the trip she gets (from four) but she’ll go an honest race. She’s no superstar, but she doesn’t miss many cheques.”
Race 8: Copy N Paste
8.45pm
“He’s dour and tradesman-like but he’s getting there. It’s his first time off the place, and the trip will improve him, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him competitive in what is a very weak field. Sometimes you don’t know what the Bettors Delights have got until they front up at the races but he trialled well and beat a couple who are against him here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.53pm
“He actually tried last time. He’s a nice horse but can change his mind quickly. Full blinds woke him up last time so we’ll see if he responds to them again this time.”
Race 3: Omaha Lincoln
5.46pm
“I think he’ll go a good race but it’s his first time at Alexandra Park so I don’t want to talk him up too much. He’s got enough ability to win a race like this, whether he’s ready to do it, we’ll find out. He can get a bit keen at times but I think he’s a chance if he does everything right.”
Race 5: Spiritual Bliss
6.54pm
“It was another great run last time after leading and she’s a good, tough mare who will go another good race. What trip she gets will determine where she finishes. From five, I’m picking she might go back this time but I’ll leave that up to the driver (Harrison Orange).”
Race 6: Sharpe Stride
7.24pm
“He’s a nice trotter, a big strong colt. He can get a bit hot but there’s nothing wrong with how he goes. He’s certainly not good enough to deal with these but he’s there for a run around.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.57pm
“He’s racing in career-best form and they were struggling for runners so I put him in. He gets a starting fee of $1750 so we won’t go home empty-handed. I’m really happy with him, he’s handling right-handed racing better these days. But he’s racing the bear cats so I’m not suggesting for a second he’ll give them a fright.”
Race 10: Colonel Lincoln
9.25pm
“I thought he went super last time. It was a vast improvement on the previous two starts and you’ve got to remember he was out for a long time. He’s coming to it now and improving all the time. I couldn’t label him but I’d be surprised if he’s not in the first three or four. He’s trained on well and gets a front row draw.”
Race 10: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.25pm
“He was given too much to do last time - up to park at the bell - and you can’t drive the ears off them every time. With a more conservative trip he’d be right in it.”
