Ray Green, left, and Lincoln Farms’ boss John Street who has now enjoyed 525 harness winners.
Hard act to follow: A million dollar season for Ray and Lincoln Farms
By Barry Lichter • 4 August 2021
2020-21 will be a hard act to follow but Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green is looking forward to the new season nonetheless with some quality young pacers in the pipeline.
The racing season which officially ended last weekend was easily the most successful for Green who nudged $1 million in stake earnings for the first time, winning 41 races here and in Australia.
Headliners Copy That (12 wins, $411,347) and American Dealer (8 wins, $282,126), who are owned overseas, accounted for $693,473 of his $941,599 total but Green also won quarter of a million dollars with Lincoln Farms-owned horses.
Along with the 20 races which Queensland trainer Al Barnes won for the stable, Lincoln Farms’ own runners bagged 39 wins, taking John and Lynne Street’s lifetime number of harness wins to 525.
“It’s been a particularly good year, certainly the best I’ve had as far as dollars and wins is concerned,” says Green who has come a long way since he notched two wins and $9440 with Soky’s Rocket in his first season as a trainer in 1988-89.
“I’m grateful to have had three quality horses - you can’t win those big numbers without them - and I know I’ll be lucky to achieve it again. It’s a tough act to follow.”
Copy That was a consistent headliner in New Zealand where he won the Group I four-year-old double of the Taylor Mile and Messenger. His 10 wins here and two in Australia saw him bag the most wins by any horse during the season, one more than leading filly Bettor Twist (11 wins).
Green climaxed the season in Queensland, winning eight races and A$253,256 with Copy That, American Dealer and Tommy Lincoln, including feature wins in the Sunshine Sprint, Queensland Derby and East Coast Derby.
His combined stakes tally was the fifth highest of New Zealand stables behind premiership winner Robert Dunn ($2.16 million), Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen ($1.89 million), their replacement Hayden Cullen ($1.72 million) and Steve and Amanda Telfer ($980,453).
But whereas Dunn lined up 748 starters, and the Telfers 487, the Lincoln Farms barn had just 191.
With American Dealer and Tommy Lincoln no longer in New Zealand, Green has only Copy That to aim at the big prizes but he is keen to see what his mostly untested newcomers can do.
“We’re basically pinning all our hopes on green two and three-year-olds this season. There are about 13 two-year-olds and 11 yearlings in work and we’re only a week or two away from bringing a new lot to the races.”
Simply Sam … one to follow.Unlike previous seasons when horses had their birthdays on August 1, New Zealand is transitioning into a calendar year season, the next five months a bonus for the youngsters.
One who will be helped by the delayed start to the new season is Simply Sam whom Green labels as potentially a leading candidate for the better three-year-old races in the new year.
“He’s had a few growing issues and will be out in the paddock for another three weeks yet but he showed he could be a serious contender last time in.”
More news in Harness
Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Copy N Paste a ‘tradesman’ but look for bold debut run at Cambridge on Thursday night
Ray reveals his theory on why rank outsider Sammy Lincoln can play a hand in the derby
$101 winner Lincoln Wave has improved and is worth following in Friday’s derby lead-up
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
6.38pm
“I’m not sure where she’s at. It’s a big drop in class - there’s not much in there - but I don’t think she’ll morph into a star. She was hitting the sulky wheels last time and over-racing but that won’t happen again.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.36pm
“She paced roughly last time but we’ve done a bit of work on her since so she should be happier this time. It depends on the trip she gets (from four) but she’ll go an honest race. She’s no superstar, but she doesn’t miss many cheques.”
Race 8: Copy N Paste
8.45pm
“He’s dour and tradesman-like but he’s getting there. It’s his first time off the place, and the trip will improve him, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him competitive in what is a very weak field. Sometimes you don’t know what the Bettors Delights have got until they front up at the races but he trialled well and beat a couple who are against him here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.53pm
“He actually tried last time. He’s a nice horse but can change his mind quickly. Full blinds woke him up last time so we’ll see if he responds to them again this time.”
Race 3: Omaha Lincoln
5.46pm
“I think he’ll go a good race but it’s his first time at Alexandra Park so I don’t want to talk him up too much. He’s got enough ability to win a race like this, whether he’s ready to do it, we’ll find out. He can get a bit keen at times but I think he’s a chance if he does everything right.”
Race 5: Spiritual Bliss
6.54pm
“It was another great run last time after leading and she’s a good, tough mare who will go another good race. What trip she gets will determine where she finishes. From five, I’m picking she might go back this time but I’ll leave that up to the driver (Harrison Orange).”
Race 6: Sharpe Stride
7.24pm
“He’s a nice trotter, a big strong colt. He can get a bit hot but there’s nothing wrong with how he goes. He’s certainly not good enough to deal with these but he’s there for a run around.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.57pm
“He’s racing in career-best form and they were struggling for runners so I put him in. He gets a starting fee of $1750 so we won’t go home empty-handed. I’m really happy with him, he’s handling right-handed racing better these days. But he’s racing the bear cats so I’m not suggesting for a second he’ll give them a fright.”
Race 10: Colonel Lincoln
9.25pm
“I thought he went super last time. It was a vast improvement on the previous two starts and you’ve got to remember he was out for a long time. He’s coming to it now and improving all the time. I couldn’t label him but I’d be surprised if he’s not in the first three or four. He’s trained on well and gets a front row draw.”
Race 10: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.25pm
“He was given too much to do last time - up to park at the bell - and you can’t drive the ears off them every time. With a more conservative trip he’d be right in it.”
