The Bull Pen downs Big On Personality and Ideal Star in his first look at Alexandra Park. PHOTO: Joel Gillan/Race Images
Ray ropes yet another for Merv with The Bull Pen looking the best yet
By Barry Lichter • 26 April 2019
The Bull Pen extended a perfect record for Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green with his first-up win at Alexandra Park tonight.
The Bull Pen became the fifth individual winner Green has trained for Australian owner Merv Butterworth since he sent his first horse to Pukekohe last December.
And the way he dispatched his rivals, clocking a 2:41.7 win, signalled he will be the best so far after Steam Punk (December), Zealand Star (January) and Just Wing It and Governor’s Bay (March).
Ray Green on the phone to owner Merv Butterworth soon after The Bull Pen’s win.“I love this horse,’’ Green said when driver David Butcher brought The Bull Pen back to scale after a copybook, lead-then trail drive.
“I’ve only had him for two weeks but both times I’ve sat behind him he’s given me a powerful feel.
“Some horses go fast and feel like shit and then others are like driving a Mercedes or Maserati, compared with a Morris Minor.
“He ran past Northview Hustler like he was tied to the fence the other day.’’
The training run prompted Green to say The Bull Pen could be “the real deal” when asked how he’d go in the www.lincolnfarms.co.nz preview.
And the Tintin In America gelding didn’t let him down, spearing out from gate four to easily take the lead.
David Butcher brings The Bull Pen back to scale after a copybook drive. PHOTO: Joel Gillan/Race Images.Butcher happily handed up to race favourite Big On Personality when he came calling after 300 metres and when presented with the passing lane in the run home, quickly gathered in the leader to score by one and a quarter lengths. There was three-quarters of a length back to Ideal Star who turned in the run of the race, weaving a passage from last at the 400 metre mark, and whistling home to finish hard on the back of The Bull Pen.
Butcher described the former southerner as a nice horse who’d probably just needed a little time to furnish.
It was the six-year-old’s fifth win from only 28 starts and boosted his earnings by $10,700 to $42,545.
When asked how he handled his first try right-handed, Butcher told Green “he got in a little bit”.
“He got a little bit aggressive a couple of times and touched the cart when he started to pull but not badly.’’
The Bull Pen, who opened at $14 with the TAB bookies, and trimmed up to $9, clocked a mile rate of 1:58.2 for the 2200 metres, home in 57.3 and 28.2.
More news in Harness
Brace for Ray and Lincoln Farms at Cambridge but Colonel’s placing just as thrilling
Ray: Preferential draw for top fillies makes it tough for everyone else in Golden Gait series
Patient owners hoping high-priced Colonel can salute at Cambridge on Thursday night
Friday’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup all about the standing start manners of Aussie raider
Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”
