Andre Poutama lets Zealand Star loose at the Pukekohe workouts.
Zealand Star could be the tote-toppler for a memorable New Year’s Eve
By Barry Lichter • 28 December 2018
At first glance Zealand Star would seem to have little chance in the fifth race at Alexandra Park on Monday.
But while his 84848 formline looks the worst in the race, and he starts from a second row draw against some very progressive opposition, he’s a much better prospect than his big odds will suggest.
Zealand Star has not paced a bad race since owner Merv Butterworth sent him north to Lincoln Farms from Lauren Pearson’s Winton stable.
- First-up he became buried on the markers and went to the line hard held with nowhere to go, only 3.7 lengths from the winner Solid Gold.
- At his next start on December 14 he ran fourth, pacing a sizzling 2:40.1 behind Ideal Star.
- And last time he finished eighth over a mile, just 5.2 lengths from winner Bounty Lady, a herculean performance after breaking as the gate left and settling 60 metres from the leaders.
Zealand Star clocked by far the fastest last 800 metres in that race, 55.6, with a red hot 27.6 third quarter.
On Monday the inside second row draw could actually be a godsend for this true-blue sit-sprinter as he follows out gate flier American Empress.
Three starts back, from the same ace draw, Sailesh Abernethy gunned American Empress out to lead a strong field in the Northern Breeders’ Stakes.
A repeat of those tactics could see Zealand Star land a dream trail and allow him to use his good turn of foot up the passing lane.
Trainer Ray Green reports Zealand Star has trained stylishly this week, a likely result of his hocks being injected.
“His hocks had been worrying him and he trained very well this morning and is looking very good.
“It’s all about draws and trips - not many can get a bad trip and excel - and while there are some nice types against him, if he could get a trail he’d be a chance.’’
Zachary Butcher takes the reins on Monday from junior driver Andrew Drake.
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.40pm
“She’s going as good as she can. She’s got a bit of speed but isn’t that strong. But she should get a nice trip here and be right in the frame. She’ll win one soon.”
Race 1: Jessie Lincoln
5.40pm
“She’s a big filly who has taken time to mature but she has plenty of ability. She’s a good pacer and I expect her to improve on her resuming run and go well.”
Race 1: Lincoln Dealer
5.40pm
“He’s a bit of a handful, too keen for his own good sometimes, so I’ll be happy to see him just get round and do most things right. He’s no superstar but he’s coming to it slowly but surely. We’re throwing him in the deep end here and he has a terrible draw but we have to start somewhere.”
Race 4: Lincoln Maree
7.04pm
“She’s as tough as old boots and tries like hell and you can’t ask for much more than that. She just lacks a bit of speed but has a good attitude. She usually finds one or two better than her but will make them work for it anyway.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.56pm
“He’ll be improved for the last run, has trialled and is working well, and has a better draw (the ace) this time. You just have to be a bit wary because he’s let us down a couple of times.”
Race 3: Angelic Copy
5.56pm
“She had a tie-up issue but seems much better now. It’s her first run for a while so she’ll definitely need the run. I’m just hoping she gets around all right and pulls up OK.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
5.56pm
“He’s a very capable horse, if injury prone, and he’s been back in work for three or four months. You never say never but, realistically, he’s just starting off so you can’t expect him to be at his peak.”
Race 5: Sammy Lincoln
6.55pm
“I know I said it two starts back but if there’s such a thing as a certainty, he’s it. Even from seven on the gate, everything says he’s the one to beat. If he hadn’t gone a bit goofy up the home straight last time in the Sires’ Stakes Semi at Cambridge, he’d have easily run third. This is a huge drop in class.”
Race 7: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.58pm
“I expect he’ll be a bit sharper this time. He’s looking well and feeling good but I still think another run under his belt will be beneficial for him. He’s not one to leap out of the ground but he is capable of taking the race.”
