Ray’s workout tip: Bettor needs to get a little fitter and then we can chase the Dreamz
His sectionals weren’t sharp and neither was the opposition but Bettor My Dreamz still did enough to show he has a future in Auckland by winning his first workout at Pukekohe on Saturday.
The latest of owner Merv Butterworth’s southern pacers to be entrusted to Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green, the three-year-old was eased back to second last early in the up to rating 71 heat over 2050 metres.
Driver Zachary Butcher moved Bettor My Dreamz up to trail at the 1400 and was then happy to just stroll along in third until easing off the fence into the one-one 500 from home.
It took little urging from Butcher for Bettor My Dreamz to reel in the leader as he sprinted home in 28.2 to beat Le Girl and Imajollywally by half a length.
With the overall time only 2:41.8, a mile rate of 2:07, it didn’t set any red lights flashing but Green said Butcher was happy with the run.
“He feels like a nice horse and he’s obviously been well schooled,’’ said Green.
“We had only basic gear on him and it needs a bit of tweaking. We’ll try him in blinkers next time as he doesn’t concentrate that well.
“He’ll definitely need another workout or two as he needs to be a bit sharper. He hasn’t raced for a while.’’
Bettor My Dreamz resumed from a seven month spell at Invercargill on June 8 but was well underdone even then, according to driver Brent Barclay, after a planned workout was cancelled.
“He’s a lovely horse and when we get him fitter I’m sure he’ll do a good job.’’
Lincoln Farms’ only other runner on a quiet five-heat morning, Man Of Action, also took out his event, a 2050 metres for non winners.
The improving two-year-old trailed Todd MacFarlane’s Royal to the 500 when he eased out to attack, overpowering his rival in the home stretch with closing sectionals of 58 and 27.4.
Royal kicked back to cut the margin to a head but Man Of Action was never put under any pressure to run the trip in 2:39.8, a mile rate of 2:05.4.
“He’s always reliable and tradesman-like,’’ said Green. “I’m sure he’ll win one soon.’’
Man Of Action has not gone a bad race in his three runs this prep, his latest a neck defeat to Ideal Agent on mile night at Auckland when he paced 1:57.9.
“I thought he did really well that night. He was unlucky, inconvenienced at a crucial time.’’
More news in Harness
Kevin Kline a real fish called Wanda fresh-up but he’ll learn from the run for Friday night
Charity horse Kevin Kline looks a good actor and Ray’s pretty hopeful for Friday night
What a Dude! The Big Lebowski bowls ‘em and sets aim for Friday’s $200,000 Free-for-all
Smart trial shows why Ray’s surprised by The Big Lebowski’s big odds for Tuesday
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 9: Kevin Kline
9.55pm
“When Maurice asked him to go at the top of the straight at Cambridge he got lost and didn’t quite know what to do. He wound up well in the end but just left it a little late. He’ll learn from that and should go well again.”
Race 10: Debbie Lincoln
10.22pm
“She has ability but she’s a work in progress. She’s fast but she needs to harness it. She gets a little claustrophobic when they come around her so the mission on Friday will be to get round without her doing anything stupid. She’s a much stronger individual now than when she started off in April.”