Louie The Punter has grown and got stronger during his break. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
If you’re a Punter you’ll want to keep Louie on side fresh-up at Auckland on Friday
By Barry Lichter • 17 November 2021
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.”
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.40pm
“She’s going as good as she can. She’s got a bit of speed but isn’t that strong. But she should get a nice trip here and be right in the frame. She’ll win one soon.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.40pm
“She’s a big filly who has taken time to mature but she has plenty of ability. She’s a good pacer and I expect her to improve on her resuming run and go well.”
Race 1: Lincoln Dealer
5.40pm
“He’s a bit of a handful, too keen for his own good sometimes, so I’ll be happy to see him just get round and do most things right. He’s no superstar but he’s coming to it slowly but surely. We’re throwing him in the deep end here and he has a terrible draw but we have to start somewhere.”
Race 4: Lincoln Maree
7.04pm
“She’s as tough as old boots and tries like hell and you can’t ask for much more than that. She just lacks a bit of speed but has a good attitude. She usually finds one or two better than her but will make them work for it anyway.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.56pm
“He’ll be improved for the last run, has trialled and is working well, and has a better draw (the ace) this time. You just have to be a bit wary because he’s let us down a couple of times.”
Race 3: Angelic Copy
5.56pm
“She had a tie-up issue but seems much better now. It’s her first run for a while so she’ll definitely need the run. I’m just hoping she gets around all right and pulls up OK.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
5.56pm
“He’s a very capable horse, if injury prone, and he’s been back in work for three or four months. You never say never but, realistically, he’s just starting off so you can’t expect him to be at his peak.”
Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
6.55pm
“I know I said it two starts back but if there’s such a thing as a certainty, he’s it. Even from seven on the gate, everything says he’s the one to beat. If he hadn’t gone a bit goofy up the home straight last time in the Sires’ Stakes Semi at Cambridge, he’d have easily run third. This is a huge drop in class.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.58pm
“I expect he’ll be a bit sharper this time. He’s looking well and feeling good but I still think another run under his belt will be beneficial for him. He’s not one to leap out of the ground but he is capable of taking the race.”
