Frisco Bay is too fast for Major Major and Clouding Over at Alexandra Park. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Ray’s swift-footed cheapie Frisco Bay eyes $35,000 stake of Metro Final next Friday
By Barry Lichter • 31 August 2024
It’s safe to say few, if any, of Frisco Bay’s rivals in Friday night’s $35,000 Northern Metro Series Final at Auckland came with a price tag of just $9000.
And after showing a dazzling turn of foot to win his heat last night, Frisco Bay will be out to bag a $19,250 winner’s purse in the first of the club’s innovative new series.
Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green paid just $9000 for Frisco Bay as a weanling in 2001, a bargain buy when you consider his main rival in the final, Lazarus gelding Jeremiah, was an $80,000 yearling.
But there was nothing to suggest the Downbytheseaside - Idealistic three-year-old came from the wrong side of the tracks when, in the hands of Zachary Butcher, he put his rivals to bed with a terrific turn of foot early in the home straight.
“Zac said he was absolutely cruising on the corner and once he headed them he actually switched off,” Green said.
It was an impressive performance given the leader was clocked over the last 800 metres in 56.2 and Frisco Bay came three wide from the rear down the back straight and four wide into the home bend.
“His manners let him down early on - he’d get too keen and would have to be put into the race - but he’s nicely mannered now.”
Green said driving conservatively early allowed Butcher to use Frisco Bay’s quick speed to the best effect and he believed he was heading in the direction of being able to compete with the top three-year-olds.
“But we have no grandiose plans, we’ll just take it one step at a time.”
What Frisco Bay looked like as a weanling at Woodlands Stud.Now a two-race winner, Frisco Bay’s first test against stronger opposition will come on Friday when he will meet, among others, second heat winner Harness Million placegetter Jeremiah and Hawkeye Pierce, who ran a very game second in the fourth heat last night after doing a lot of work from a bad draw.
“If we can get some of it next week we’ll be happy,” said Green who races Frisco Bay with Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street.
“He was pretty forward to resume last night - he trialled really well and had been training really well prior to that - but he’ll obviously improve with the run under his belt.”
Green said he was attracted to the horse as a weanling because “he wasn’t a typical Downbytheseaside which are all big, rangy types. He was more compact and quite muscular.”
It was those attributes which trumped the comparatively mediocre ability shown by his dam Idealistic who won six races but never attained a rating higher than R53 despite running 10 seconds, 16 thirds and 13 fourths in his 122 starts.
“And when you’re outlaying only $9000 you don’t have to go cap in hand to the bank manager.”
The 12 automatic qualifiers for Friday night’s final at the Park are:
Heat 1: Claude (2:40.8), Always B Elite, Ideal Delight.
Heat 2: Jeremiah (2:42), Hooray Henry, Mako.
Heat 3: Frisco Bay (2:42.2), Major Major, Clouding Over.
Heat 4: Seaclusion (2:40.5), Hawkeye Pierce, Louezyana.
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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.
