Steam Punk a work in progress - but there’s definitely more in the tank
By Barry Lichter • 10 December 2018
Easy Auckland winner Steam Punk has the ability to win more races quite quickly - but trainer Ray Green has some experimenting to do first.
“He’s still a work in progress,’’ says Green of the three-year-old who led all the way to score in only his second race last Friday night at Alexandra Park.
While the win might have looked clinical to most, Green could see Steam Punk putting in a few fancy steps in the running, observations confirmed by driver Zachary Butcher on returning to scale.
A little rough and uncertain in his gait, Butcher told Green he kept a good grip on the horse even up the home stretch, sensing he could make a mistake if pressured too much.
“You can’t knock a winning performance but he did only go 2:46.7,’’ says Green.
Zachary Butcher brings Steam Punk back to scale.“I’m sure there’s a lot more there but we need to sort a few little things first. I’ll be doing a bit of experimenting with him before he lines up again.
“I’m still learning about the horse but when we can get him pacing 100 percent and ask him for more, he should win two or three more races quite quickly.’’
Steam Punk has been at Lincoln Farms for only a month after being sent north by Australian owner Merv Butterworth.
He showed this nervy nature on debut on November 30 when he lost the plot after being hunted hard out of the gate, galloping out of contention.
Green was immediately on to that, deadening him down for his next start with a fixed deafener and blinds.
The horse also wore different hopples last Friday after Butcher reported they felt a little tight the previous week.
Green is not convinced they got the hopple length right second time either, the straps looking a little long.
“I’ll school him up a bit in the next week, and adjust the hopples, and hopefully next time we can give him a bit more confidence. But he is very green and nervous - he’d jump if you dropped something beside him.’’
Zealand Star is last but under a big hold by David Butcher with nowhere to go.Earlier in the night Green was left lamenting about the bad luck encountered by Butterworth’s second runner, Zealand Star, who never saw clear air in the run home and was hard held by David Butcher at the line, last but only 3.7 lengths from winner Solid Gold.
Butcher followed instructions not to burn the five-year-old early, Butterworth looking for a “Herlihy-like marker hugging drive” to allow the sit-sprinter to shine late.
But Butcher was trapped four deep and was still three deep turning for home, gaps never eventuating as his “death grip” tightened on the horse the closer he got to the post.
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.”
