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Leo Lincoln is showing plenty of potential for Lincoln Farms. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.

Good looking Leo the latest Lincoln to show promise and Ray’s in boots and all

One look at Leo Lincoln and you can see why trainer Ray Green took a share in the horse himself when Lincoln Farms set up his partnership recently.

But not only is the Art Major two-year-old a good looker, he’s showing he’s got what it takes to make it on the racetrack.

“I think he’s got a lot of potential,” says Green who lines the horse up on debut in the fifth race at Auckland on Thursday night.

Stonewall Stud might have five of the eight runners, and four of the inside draws, but Green still rates Leo a “good chance”, providing he can get a good trip.

“He’s a pretty nice little horse and I think he’ll go a good race even from seven on the gate. He’ll need a little bit of luck but he’s got speed.”

Green says Leo Lincoln will obviously benefit from the experience as he’s faced only small fields in his one workout and two trials.

“He’s been a bit slow coming to it but he seems to be heading in the right direction now.

Race night driver Zachary Butcher educates Leo Lincoln at Pukekohe. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Race night driver Zachary Butcher educates Leo Lincoln at Pukekohe. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.“We haven’t pushed him hard at any of his trials, they’ve been schooling runs, but he’s done everything we’ve asked of him.”

Leo Lincoln won in his very first workout on May 12 when, handled by racenight driver Zachary Butcher, he was too good for Stonewall Stud’s Rock Band and Carbon, who finished first and third on debut last week.

In the second of his two trials, on June 9, Leo Lincoln ran third behind Stonewall Stud’s Seaside Rose and Akatea, both rivals on Thursday, finishing just as well as his rivals on a 27.3 final quarter after being held up turning for home.

Green puts his trainer’s cap on when he says “I’ll be happy to just see him get round” on Thursday but you sense he might have a few more words of encouragement for his partners who include Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street, their business manager Ian Middleton, long time owners Glenn Cotterill and his mother Ann Cotterill and Phil Kelly.

Bought as a weanling, the gelding is from a family Lincoln Farms is well familiar with. He is the second foal of Alta Valencia, a sister to Alta Intrigue who ran third for the stable in Raukapuka Ruler’s 2017 Great Northern Derby.

Alta Intrigue won four races and ran 10 seconds here before being sold to Perth where he won another 10 races.

As much as Green would love to see Leo Lincoln score on debut he rates Lincoln River the stable’s best winning chance of the night one race earlier.

Lincoln River went down by only half a head last week after enjoying a perfect trail for junior driver Andrew Drake, just failing to catch Miki Shan who got away with blue murder in front.

In a field which looks easier, if anything, he’ll need luck from his second row draw but he has aggressive driver Andre Poutama in the bike to help.

“You’d have to make him one of the favourites and if everything was fair and square he’d be our best shot of the night.

“Somebody up there doesn’t like us though as we have awful draws all night.”

Green says race rival My Copy hasn’t gone a bad race this entire preparation, mostly from dodgy draws.

“The five alley’s no better and he’ll need luck and a good trip.”

Major Achievement fares even worse at three on the second line in the second race.

“I thought he went quite well (for fifth) on debut last week after a good trip in the one-one but he’s had limited experience in big fields and will need a lot of luck.”

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Ray Green

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.”

Mark Dux

Mark Dux’s comments

Saturday night at Albion Park

Race 3: Argyle
9.04pm NZ time

“I thought his last two starts have been terrific. There’s no doubt this race is tougher, and he has trickier draw, but I was talking to Angus last night and he was quite upbeat about his chances. He said the horse gave him a good feel when he sat parked two starts back and he picked him too (in the draft). But it won’t be easy. There could be a bit of pressure early. I think he’ll come out and see what unfolds and, if there is too much pressure, he’ll drive him quietly.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Sunday at Manawatu

Race 1: Onyx Shard
5.29pm

“You can put a line through her last run at Cambridge when she pulled up showing signs of a respiratory infection. She had a couple of weeks off after that and, while she hasn’t trialled since, she’s been training down nicely. She’s a nice filly and from the good draw should really win.”

Race 3: Lincoln La Moose
6.19pm

“He wasn’t far away in the amateur race at Auckland last time despite jumping a shadow early and galloping. This is a decent drop in class for him and he should be very competitive.

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