Good mile effort on Friday will see Lincoln River travel some more miles to Hawera
Trainer Ray Green is looking for a good run from Lincoln River on Friday night to cement a trip south to Hawera next week.
Lincoln River lines up in the fifth race at Auckland on mile night, over the same trip and from the same barrier, five, that saw him score his last win at the Park in November.
And after two workout wins in as many weeks, Green is confident of a good showing from the tough little pacer.
Lincoln River led all the way for Nathan Delany in his latest workout at Pukekohe last Saturday and, driven out, clocked a fast 1:58.9 mile rate for the 2050 metres to stave off Nelson’s Boy and stablemate My Copy.
With regular driver Delany suspended for a whip infringement until after the meeting, the reins go to fellow stable junior Monika Ranger on Friday night.
“He’s in good shape and I’m sure he’ll go well,” Green said.
Lincoln River, inner, pips his more favoured stablemate Frankie Major in his last run over a mile at Auckland last November. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.“He’s pulled up well from that latest workout and the mile will suit.”
Green is considering taking Lincoln River, Simply Sam and possibly Commander Lincoln to Hawera next week for the Friday-Sunday grass track meeting.
Lincoln River and Simply Sam would have two $20,000 cups to contest, Friday’s Stratford Cup and Sunday’s Hawera Cup, both over 2100 metres.
“Half the staff are going down so they might as well take some horses with them.”
Green isn’t expecting too much from Simply Sam in the seventh race on Friday night, given he takes on the likes of Merlin, Mach Shard, Sooner The Better and Alta Wiseguy.
“It’s only a small field but I can’t see Merlin beaten and a few of the others look better than him too.
“But he’ll get a good trip from one and should still go a good race, he always does.”
The same applies to Leo Lincoln in the fifth race, his 23212 formline telling all you need to know, Green said.
“He’s gone well in each of his last five starts and while Christopher Dance easily beat him last time, he was clearly better than the rest.”
Leo Lincoln tagged on to the back of Christopher Dance in making his run from last, improved three wide round the home turn and closed bravely in the very wet conditions.
My Copy, who takes on Lincoln River in race six, is the lowest rated runner but has the best draw, the ace hole giving him a chance at some money.
“That draw always helps and he’ll go his usual, honest race.”
My Copy was only 2.2 lengths from winner and stablemate Frankie Major in his last start on New Year’s Eve, rallying gamely from three deep on the markers to finish right alongside the in-form Two Eye See.
More news in Harness
Leo Lincoln close to a win: Watch how he copped it early last time at Manawatu
Consisent little Lincoln Lou sold to Western Australia to join fellow ex-Kiwis
Kevin Kline caps record day for Casey and loyal Lincoln Farms’ team - and can repeat
It’s bon voyage Frisky as Ray celebrates another rags to riches sale success
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Nathan’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.44pm
“Fergie’s drive on Sunday was perfect, you couldn’t ask for better, and he said the horse was doing his best work in the last 50 metres. Maybe with another 100 metres he might have got there. His gate speed is only OK so I can see him getting crossed here.”
Race 5: Kevin Kline
6.19pm
“Fergie said he did it easily on the first day, and the horse only did what he had to. He’s been racing much nicer horses at Auckland so it was good to get the win, hopefully it will boost his confidence. I’ll leave the tactics up to Fergie but I imagine he’ll probably do the same thing again, loop the field and outstay them.”
Race 6: Onyx Shard
6.54pm
“I was hoping she’d drop down a grade. She’s had some tough trips recently, having to do a lot of work, and it didn’t help being three wide for the last lap on the first day. Also they only walked and sprinted home. She could be better coming with one run at them.”

Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Lincoln Lover
5.33pm
“He had no chance last start when trapped three wide all the way. That won’t happen this time from the inside draw so that gives him a chance to get some of it.”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.33pm
“He’s shown no gate speed so the wide draw doesn’t matter. He’s coming along all right but will need lots of luck against the hot pots.”
Race 5: Debbie Lincoln
6.54pm
“She seems to have overcome her tying-up issue, her bloods are good, and she’s training well again. She could possibly be underdone and the seven draw makes it very hard.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lou
7.20pm
Scratched. Sold to Western Australia.

Ray’s comments
Sunday at Manawatu
Race 1: What’s Up The Hill
3.16pm
“He’s a work in progress. He just needs more practice - you don’t learn much at the trials with only two or three horses. If he trots the whole way, he should be in the money.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
4.38pm
“We drove her more quietly last time and she finished very well. She got sucked along and did nothing, finishing with plenty of gas in the tank. Ideally she’ll be driven like that again.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
5.33pm
“He had his legs taken right out from under him on the first turn last time. He’s racing very well and should be in the money again for sure.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
5.33pm
“We’ve scratched him. He has an abscess in a foot and is quite tender on it.”