Ray: Little Leo’s under-rated and he can give them a hurry-up at Auckland on Friday night

Leo Lincoln might be the equal lowest rated horse in the field at Auckland on Friday night but he’s no forlorn hope, says trainer Ray Green.

Rated 47, the Art Major three-year-old takes on better performed rivals rated up to 61 in the ninth race at Alexandra Park but his recent efforts suggest he’s right up to the task.

“He’s an under-rated horse, as good as those others,” says Green.

“He’s proving to be a tidy horse and, while he’s not viewed as a serious player by some, I think he is. He was closing off really well last week behind Hugotastic.”

Three back on the markers, Leo came with a strong home stretch charge to be just three-quarters of a length away at the line, recording closing sectionals of 56.6 and 27.9, his overall clocking of the 2200 metres a slick 2:40.8.

Drawn well in two, Green can see Leo getting another cruisy run on the pegs and giving the 61-raters Skipper and Bad Medicine, both badly drawn, plenty to think about.

Green is not so confident of the Lincoln Farms’ pair Lincoln Lou and Sugar Ray Lincoln filling placings in the $110,000 Young Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes.

They’re out of contention but both Lincoln Lou (Andre Poutama) and Sugar Ray Lincoln (Maurice McKendry) are closing strongly.“Lincoln Lou is a beautiful little horse who doesn’t do anything wrong. He got held up at a crucial time last week and got home well (for sixth).

“He gets out pretty well so should get a good trip from two. He’ll go his usual honest race. He’s improving all the time, he’s a gutsy little guy, but whether he can measure up to the favourites remains to be seen.”

Green is doing no more than hope Sugar Ray Lincoln can do things right.

Last week Sugar Ray turned on another display reminiscent of the early version of his older brother Copy That when he mixed his gait in the opening stages and tailed the field by nearly 10 lengths.

“He’s a work in progress and we’re still dabbling with his gear,” Green said.

Sugar Ray Lincoln is all of 10 lengths behind the field at the bell.Sugar Ray struggled to get his head round tighter hopples last week, “trying to plait his legs”, and it wasn’t until the last 800 metres that he started pacing smoothly for driver Maurice McKendry.

His late charge, albeit in eighth place, nine lengths from winner Demon Blue, gave a hint of the ability under the bonnet.

“He’s actually a naturally good-gaited horse, like all the American Ideals, but he’s going through a stage of not really knowing why he’s out there.

“You just don’t know when he’ll click but three is an ideal draw for him and he should be handy if he does things right.”

With little in the immediate future to aim at, both two-year-olds will go for a spell after the race, says Green.