Line Up, outer, shows high speed for Zachary Butcher to reel in leader Cloud Break at Pukekohe today.
When Ray and Zachary get it all to Line Up, watch out for the ‘whoosh’
By Barry Lichter • 5 January 2019
It might not have looked pretty today but when trainer Ray Green gets well bred colt Line Up geared up right, and the penny drops, he’ll have a brand of speed few of his peers can match.
Line Up didn’t win his heat at the Pukekohe trials today, and didn’t even get round without making a couple of mistakes, but his speed still carried him within a head of winner Cloud Break in the fastest mile run by the babies at Pukekohe this season.
Driven by Zachary Butcher, the brother to 17-race winner Partyon gave away five lengths on the first turn when he started pacing very roughly and did everything but gallop full on.
Line Up settled at the tail of the four-horse field until Butcher lit the fuse with 500 metres to run and he swept up from last to take the lead from Cloud Break - only to start pacing roughly again and lose another two lengths.
But when Butcher got the colt balanced again he showed rare acceleration to all but pick up the leader in the closing 150 metres.
Butcher clocked Line Up to sprint his last 400 metres in 27.5, a fine effort considering the mile was run in 2:02.1.
Zachary Butcher … “He went whoosh.”“He went whoosh,’’ says Butcher. “He’s got quick speed and feels like the type who will come to it.
“They went a lot quicker today and he’s just got to get used to that speed.’’
Green says yesterday’s run was a bit of an experiment after they let out Line Up’s hopples by two holes.
“They were a bit tight last time but he didn’t quite cope with it today so I’ll pull the hopples up one hole next time.’’
Green likes the colt who cost $130,000 as a yearling, and says if he keeps improving he could join his stablemates Perfect Stride, Double Or Nothing and Sir Tiger in the next Young Guns heat for colts and geldings at Auckland on February 8.
Green’s own colt Copy That is also on the list of potential Young Guns reinforcements after his recent trial wins although the youngster continued his frustrating run of breaks on the same turn today, losing his early lead, before settling third and running on fairly to run fourth, two and a half lengths from the winner.
Tommy Lincoln, third, held a length margin over Copy That at the finish after driver Craig Sharpe reported he was left flat-footed on the home turn.
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Our runners this week
Sunday at Manawatu
Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Lincoln La Moose.
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
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.”
