Simply Sam and Maurice McKendry easily gather in their rivals at the Park. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Small field will help our Sammy boy notch a hat-trick at the Park on Friday night
By Barry Lichter • 25 May 2022
Trainer Ray Green believes Simply Sam can notch a hat-trick at Alexandra Park on Friday night despite his two main dangers having drawn inside him.
Green likes the fact Simply Sam starts from four in the final race, with Queen Of Diamonds and Take The Miki in one and two.
“Maurice has options from there,” Green said. “One was an awkward draw for him last week.”
Lost for early gate speed McKendry soon found himself three deep on the markers but he was able to push off rounding the first turn.
And while he was still well back 600 metres from home, and had to come three wide round the final bend, once the three-year-old balanced up in the run home he quickly gathered in his rivals.
“It’s a similar bunch this week and the small field will help so he’s definitely the one to beat again.”
With only six rivals, Simply Sam shouldn’t have any traffic trouble and be able to unleash what McKendry is repeatedly describing as rare speed.
Green has a healthy respect for pole runner Queen Of Diamonds, set to share favouritism with Simply Sam courtesy of her perfect draw and stable mana.
The Mark Purdon/Hayden Cullen - trained filly might have run three and a half seconds slower than Simply Sam last week when second to Monaco Grace in the $50,000 Sires Stakes Magnifique but she was parked for the last 1200 metres, didn’t handle the final turn well in her first go right-handed, and had to contend with a slushier track after persistent squally conditions.
Queen Of Diamonds, a 1:54.7 mile rate winner at Ashburton, showed she could run time in her first start in the north at Cambridge when she unwound a withering run from last, coming five wide round the home turn and running Bettor Grunter to a length in 2:40.8, closing in 56.65.
With Purdon suspended (until after June 2 for a whip infringement), the filly will be handled on Friday night by Natalie Rasmussen.
Colonel Lincoln … needs a bit of schooling.Lincoln Farms’ only other runner on the night, Colonel Lincoln, cops a second row draw in the second race, from where McKendry can continue to educate the two-year-old.
“He’s a nice horse who just needs a bit of schooling,” Green said. “He’s a bit thick - it takes him a while to get things right in his head.
“I thought his run for third last week was very good, considering he was near last at the 600 and looped them four wide and kept running.
“If he gets lucky, hopefully he can get some of the money again.”
Green says Tony Herlihy’s Mr Chip, runner-up in all three runs this season, will be the one to catch from the pole.
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.”
