Muddled Im Not The Maid can serve it up to them this time at Cambridge on Tuesday
By Barry Lichter • 19 August 2024
Novice three-year-old Im Not The Maid had a legitimate excuse for finishing only fourth at Cambridge last week.
And while Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green says the filly is no champion, he believes she can finish in the money in the third race there on Tuesday night.
Punters who sent out Im Not The Maid second favourite last Tuesday were on good terms with themselves when driver Andre Poutama looped the field to lead down the back straight the first time.
But, having only her second start, the filly shied at an infield lighting generator near the 1200 metres and galloped turning into the home straight.
Im Not The Maid is leading but shies at the infield generator and turns her head before galloping.It was more than 100 metres later before she hit her hopples again, finding herself three back on the markers and basically out of winning contention.
While 10 lengths from the third horse at the finish, Poutama didn’t persevere with the horse down the home straight when a clear fourth.
“It was just one of those things,” Green said. “Hopefully it won’t happen again. She generally does things right, she’s pretty honest.
“She’s in a grade where she’ll be one of the hardest to beat and it’s a pretty average bunch.”
Green said Im Not The Maid, who finished a good second on debut, sprint-laned only by hot favourite Papenhuyzen, had trained on well.
She starts from six, for the third time in a row, but has shown enough early tactical speed to find a competitive position.
The two draw should ensure stable battler Commander Lincoln also secures a good spot in the running in the opening race for amateurs.
Commander Lincoln’s best form has been in the weaker amateur races and two starts back he powered home to be beaten only a neck and a head by race rival Desert Dawn at Auckland.
The four-year-old contested a stronger junior drivers’ race last time at Cambridge and, while capably handled by Fergus Schumacher, only battled into seventh.
“The boy drove him well. He is what he is. He lacks a yard of speed. You just feed him the track and see what happens.”
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Ray’s comments
Tuesday at Auckland
Race 2: Colonel Lincoln
3.39pm
“He’s a beautiful horse, and a quality mover, who’s finally demonstrating his ability. He’s done a lot of work and has had a good, solid build-up so he’ll cop a bit of racing now and I don’t see why he won’t be in it again.”
Race 2: Frisco Bay
3.39pm
“If you put him in front or in the breeze he over-races. He needs a run where he can relax in behind - every time he’s got a two-hole trip he’s won. He’s a bit one-dimensional in that respect but he’s got a lot of speed and, if he’d drawn better, I’d have labelled him.”
Race 3: Lincoln Lou
4.04pm
“On paper, he should be favourite. You can’t fault that last run in the Golden Gait and if he repeats that he’s the one to beat. He seems to be back to where we had him before. He’s been incredibly unlucky in a lot of his races. We don’t need good luck, we’re just looking for no bad luck.”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
4.04pm
“I can’t see him beating our other two. I don’t think we’ll see the best of him until well into his three-year-old year. He’s a big, rangy, slow developing horse. We’ll race him on Tuesday then give him a bit of a break.”
Race 3: Debbie Lincoln
4.04pm
“I know this is a step-up in grade, and she’s drawn the outside, but I’ve got a feeling she could be up to it. Her driver, Maurice McKendry, is very enthusiastic about her and he’s no fool. He’s been happy every time he’s sat behind her. She keeps getting better and potentially could be a high class three-year-old filly. I’m quite excited about her.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
4.30pm
“He won’t burn off any quick beginners but he showed he could hold his own from the inside when he won two starts back. He’s just got to do it without doing anything tricky. He can pace roughly, he’s not the complete package yet, but when the penny drops he’ll be a serious horse.”
Race 9: The Big Lebowski
7.17pm
“I wasn’t disappointed with his last run. It’s hard to win those races from long back marks at Cambridge - Copy That had to go a New Zealand record to do it. He’s as good as he can be at the moment but these are the best horses in commission and we’ll be grateful for what we can get.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 3: Onyx Shard
6.38pm
“She can get some of it. She has a good draw so should get a good trip. She’s training on well.”
Race 4: Commander Lincoln
7.09pm
“The draw doesn’t matter with him as he’s not one to leave the gate. I thought he went super last time. He got home really well and was unlucky not to run second or even win.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.33pm
“Forget that last run. He half choked when Zac tried to restrain him and started pulling. He’s got a better draw this time, should hop straight into the trail, and hopefully get home as well as when he won the time before.”
