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
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
4.52pm
“She did a good job last week at Auckland. Throwing her in the deep end seems to have toughened her up a bit. She’s getting stronger all the time. This is a big drop in class and she’s a chance from a better gate (three).”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.20pm
“If the real Prince turned up he’d absolutely be hard to beat. If he leads, as he should do from two, he’s a different horse.”
Race 3: Major Copy
5.54pm
“Maurice just nursed him around on debut. He was stepping over tyre marks on the track so he didn’t want to launch him into the open too soon. We’ll put a shadow roll on him this time to stop that and I can see him going a lot better from the inside draw.”
Race 3: Jessie Lincoln
5.54pm
“I’m not saying she can’t win but it will be hard for Fergie to find a good trip from the draw. She’ll need a lot of luck but she can be right in it if things go her way as she’s training well.”
Race 5: Lincoln Dealer
6.49pm
“He’s been a slow developing horse and you can’t drive him pretty, he won’t let you, as he’s a bit of a hot head. Maurice will launch him and see where he ends up.”
Race 5: Spirit Of God
6.49pm
“She got tired late last time and started hanging a bit (hitting a marker) but I thought she went OK. She did a bit early (from a wide draw) and was still there at the finish so she’s going to win a race. You never know with second line draws but it’s usually a decent impairment.”
Race 7: Lincoln Maree
7.40pm
“She never runs a bad race. She has a big motor for a little filly and should be right in the fray.”
Race 7: Angelic Copy
7.40pm
“Maurice said she foundered a bit when they took off, and got three or four lengths behind, but she didn’t lose any more ground after that and held her place. So the run wasn’t as bad as it looked and she’ll be improved.”
Race 8: Lincoln Wave
8.14pm
“It was a non-event last time (from a stand) and he’s a good horse who will be vying for the lead from five and deserves to be favourite.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.14pm
“Peter (Ferguson) said he didn’t feel as sharp last week as in the past so I’ve given him a little freshen-up with a light week and he should go better.”
