Ray excited to see what big unit The Big Lebowski can do at Auckland on Friday night
By Barry Lichter • 17 May 2023
He’s no Copy That but Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green is excited to see what stable newcomer The Big Lebowski can do in the last race at Auckland on Friday night.
The Big Lebowski, as big and tough as his name suggests, brings top form north from Southland where he has won his last two starts for Melbourne owners Merv and Meg Butterworth.
“I’m expecting a good run from him,” Green said. “He trialled super last Friday against much better horses than he meets this week.”
The Big Lebowksi trailed in his 2500 metre workout heat at Pukekohe, fighting strongly at the finish to be just a nose and three-quarters of a length behind Kango and Old Town Road, who run in Friday night’s feature, the Roy Purdon Memorial.
“He seemed to handle the right-handed way easily enough,” Green said.
“He’s a nice big horse and I think he’ll be quite competitive up here.”
The Big Lebowksi powers to the line to win comfortably at Ascot Park in his last start.The Big Lebowski last raced at Invercargill on April 23, when forced to go back to midfield after being trapped wide from the outside gate. He worked round to lead before the bell and kicked away to beat Nutcracker by one and three-quarter lengths in the manner of a horse reaching his peak.
Green was forced this morning to scratch Simply Sam from the same race, fearful that he might run foul of the new with-holding times after the horse’s joints were treated with Kenacort, a commonly used cortisone which cannot now be given within 16 days of racing, double the previous safe period.
Green was not happy about the missed opportunity and said the changes would now start to impact on many more owners just when harness racing was in dire need of more starters, not fewer.
To his knowledge there had been no recent cases of positive tests even under the old eight-day rule for cortisone injections.
Green said injecting joints was not a case of trainers trying to cheat - the treatments were part of routine maintenance to keep horses racing at their best on the track.
Green lines up another talented runner, part-owned by the Butterworths, in the opening event in Beaudiene Rocknroll who could go better than his shocking barrier draw of four on the second row would suggest.
“He’s at the mercy of others back there but, if he gets a reasonable trip, he’s a chance. He’s a nice horse who is going well.”
Beaudiene Rocknroll has looked good winning his last two workouts, in front all the way, for Andre Poutama who takes the reins on Friday night.
Beaudiene Rocknroll, co-raced by breeders Dave and Dawn Kennedy and Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street, raced twice as a two-year-old before running into trouble.
“The reason he hasn’t surfaced again until now is he broke a pedal bone and was out for six months,” Green said.
“But it’s not surprising he’s got speed. He’s a half brother to two multiple Group I winners, Beaudiene Boaz and Beaudiene Bad Babe.
“He won’t be far off the winner’s circle.”
Green’s own runner My Copy also cops a bad alley in the ninth, and looks set to start at long odds given the race is rich in talent.
“He went super last time and has gone three good races in a row now. He’s ready to win when things go his way.”
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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.
