If you’re a Punter you’ll want to keep Louie on side fresh-up at Auckland on Friday

Louie The Punter hasn’t raced for five months but the way he’s trialling he’ll still be hard to roll at Auckland on Friday night.

Lincoln Farms’ NZ Cup-winning trainer Ray Green takes just the one horse to the Park this week but says “if Louie leads, he’ll be hard to beat.”

Louie The Punter has won both his workouts this preparation, sitting parked for the last lap in the first then leading all the way last time when convincingly beating Friday’s race rival Ultimate Missile.

Louie was particularly impressive that day, sprinting home in 57.8 and 27.7 to score by three and a quarter lengths in a 2:02.5 mile rate for the 2050 metres.

Green says the Sweet Lou gelding has grown a little and got stronger during his break and he’s hoping he can strike form immediately like he did in his last campaign when racking up a second then two wins at Auckland, clocking 2:42.7 and 2:42.9.

“He has a good draw (two) and has the gate speed to take advantage of that. Lack of race fitness might beat him but he certainly has the ability to win.

“I wasn’t overly impressed with Ultimate Missile who only fell in to win on debut.”

Louie The Punter is much better than his form line reads.

In his last three starts he:

• Sat parked throughout when last behind Zarias
• Was pushed back to the rear when second last behind stablemate Captain Nemo and
• Found subsequent Jewels winner BD Joe’s 2:39.2 tempo beyond him after trailling and racing three deep.

“He was running into some tidy horses and getting bad trips so you can forgive those runs,” says Green.

On Friday, Louie The Punter has just six rivals in an even looking line-up.

“He’ll be better for the run but looks a good each way chance.”