The Always B Miki colt who really caught the eye of Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green today.
Green finds colt who oozed class among bargain basement weanlings at Karaka
By Barry Lichter • 25 May 2023
He wasn’t the most expensive weanling Lincoln Farms picked up at Karaka today but trainer Ray Green rated an Always B Miki colt the standout of their five buys.
Lot 95, a colt out of the good producer Samantha Q, fell to the bid of Lincoln Farms’ owner John Street for $34,000.
“He’s the first Always B Miki we’ve bought and I thought he oozed class,” Green said of the colt.
The youngster is a half-brother to Alta Intrigue who notched four wins and 13 placings for the stable before his sale to Perth where he won another 10.
“Alta Intrigue was a very early runner and very quick horse.”
The colt headlined a day when Street basically stuck to buying from families he knew well, and for the most part got them at bargain basement prices, his five successes costing just $97,000.
The Downbytheseaside colt who cost $42,500 is from the family of Tigerish and Justa Tiger.The one for which Street had to open his shoulders a little was a Downbytheseaside - Tigers Lady colt who cost $42,500, the fifth equal highest price of the day.
He is from the family of Tigerish whose son Justa Tiger won nine races for Lincoln Farms and ran third in the 2008 Northern Derby.
“I loved that horse,” Green said. “He was real genuine. He loved training and racing, his work ethic was enormous.”
Each of the stable’s other three buys were dirt cheap, Green said.
“It was a productive sale for us. If they’re no good it won’t kill us. A lot of them which sold today didn’t even make their stud fees.”
Street was on a bit of a nostalgia trip when he bid $3500 for a Sweet Lou - Moonlighting filly.
Moonlighting had no speed when Green trained her for Woodlands Stud and didn’t race but she is a sister to Sir Lincoln whose 20 wins included an Auckland Cup for John and Lynne Street.
Lincoln Farms also raced Lincoln’s Keepsake (4 wins), Lincoln’s Megastar, Lincoln’s Superstar and Lord Lincoln out of the mare Clare de Lune.
Green was more taken with another out of the family, a Lather Up - Ima Megastar colt who cost $10,000.
Ima Megastar was the only foal that six-race winner Lincoln’s Megastar left before her untimely death.
“He’s a nice colt and I was happy to get him for only $10,000.
“I thought our other cheap horse was the Downbytheseaside - Roanne filly who cost only $7000.
A well conformed filly, Green also liked the fact former top filly Lancome dominated the pedigree page.
Green bought this Lather Up filly himself for $3500. She is out of a sister to the talented Colonel Lincoln.Green took one home for himself too, a Lather Up - Jessie’s Girl filly, for just $3500.
“She’s a lovely filly and ticked all my boxes.”
The filly’s dam was unraced but is a sister to the stable’s talented three-year-old Colonel Lincoln.
Green’s wife Debbie also signed for one, a Bettor’s Wish - Dudinka’s Angel filly, who cost $7500.
The sale topper was Woodlands’ Bettor’s Delight colt out of Asabella who fell to the bid of Peter Lagan Standardbreds for $52,000.
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Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
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’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’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.
