Little Themightyserina in full flight turning for home at Pukekohe last Saturday.
Themightyserina has some mighty big shoes to fill but she can ace her Cambridge debut
By Barry Lichter • 2 December 2020
She’s only knee high to a grasshopper but Themightyserina strikes a winnable race for her debut at Cambridge on Thursday night, trainer Ray Green liking the fact there are no champions against her.
The only champion actually appears in the pedigree of the American Ideal filly, whose dam Themightykendall is a full sister to one of Australasia’s best pacers of the last few decades, Themightyquinn.
Themightykendall was the very next foal breeder Dave Kennedy got out of Love Sign after Themightyquinn who won 58 races and more than A$4.5 million.
And while she doesn’t have the physique to achieve those heights, little Serina has shown enough ability to win a few races for Lincoln Farms, and its partners Shannon Flay and Amy and Lance Myocevich.
Green didn’t even attempt to race her at two, her diminutive size and lack of strength against her.
“But she’s trialling well this time in and doing everything right so she has to be a chance in that field. From the draw (three) she should get a handy trip.”
Green primed Themightyserina for her debut with a good workout win at Pukekohe last Saturday when, after taking the lead mid-heat, she staved off a late run by fellow American Ideal filly Waitforever, who will have supporters when she debuts for Arna Donnelly at Auckland on Friday night.
While driver David Butcher reported she hadn’t shown quite as much speed as Green suspected she might have, Themightyserina was nevertheless tradesmanlike, finding the line under her own steam with a closing quarter in 28.
The foal after Themightykendall, Themightynadal, also by Washington VC, was bought by Themightyquinn’s trainer Gary Hall and won seven races in Perth.
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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.”
