Good mile effort on Friday will see Lincoln River travel some more miles to Hawera
By Barry Lichter • 24 January 2024
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.
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Ray’s comments
Tuesday at Auckland
Race 2: Colonel Lincoln
3.39pm
“He’s a beautiful horse, and a quality mover, who’s finally demonstrating his ability. He’s done a lot of work and has had a good, solid build-up so he’ll cop a bit of racing now and I don’t see why he won’t be in it again.”
Race 2: Frisco Bay
3.39pm
“If you put him in front or in the breeze he over-races. He needs a run where he can relax in behind - every time he’s got a two-hole trip he’s won. He’s a bit one-dimensional in that respect but he’s got a lot of speed and, if he’d drawn better, I’d have labelled him.”
Race 3: Lincoln Lou
4.04pm
“On paper, he should be favourite. You can’t fault that last run in the Golden Gait and if he repeats that he’s the one to beat. He seems to be back to where we had him before. He’s been incredibly unlucky in a lot of his races. We don’t need good luck, we’re just looking for no bad luck.”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
4.04pm
“I can’t see him beating our other two. I don’t think we’ll see the best of him until well into his three-year-old year. He’s a big, rangy, slow developing horse. We’ll race him on Tuesday then give him a bit of a break.”
Race 3: Debbie Lincoln
4.04pm
“I know this is a step-up in grade, and she’s drawn the outside, but I’ve got a feeling she could be up to it. Her driver, Maurice McKendry, is very enthusiastic about her and he’s no fool. He’s been happy every time he’s sat behind her. She keeps getting better and potentially could be a high class three-year-old filly. I’m quite excited about her.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
4.30pm
“He won’t burn off any quick beginners but he showed he could hold his own from the inside when he won two starts back. He’s just got to do it without doing anything tricky. He can pace roughly, he’s not the complete package yet, but when the penny drops he’ll be a serious horse.”
Race 9: The Big Lebowski
7.17pm
“I wasn’t disappointed with his last run. It’s hard to win those races from long back marks at Cambridge - Copy That had to go a New Zealand record to do it. He’s as good as he can be at the moment but these are the best horses in commission and we’ll be grateful for what we can get.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 3: Onyx Shard
6.38pm
Update: Scratched
“She can get some of it. She has a good draw so should get a good trip. She’s training on well.”
Race 4: Commander Lincoln
7.09pm
“The draw doesn’t matter with him as he’s not one to leave the gate. I thought he went super last time. He got home really well and was unlucky not to run second or even win.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.33pm
“Forget that last run. He half choked when Zac tried to restrain him and started pulling. He’s got a better draw this time, should hop straight into the trail, and hopefully get home as well as when he won the time before.”
