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.
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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.
