Leo Lincoln finishes strongly behind Penny Black last Friday.
Leo Lincoln leads the charge of Lincoln Farms’ place chances at the Park on Friday night
By Barry Lichter • 13 December 2023
Trainer Ray Green doesn’t expect the outside draw to stop improving two-year-old Leo Lincoln from earning another cheque at Auckland on Friday night.
The Art Major gelding finished best of the rest behind the strongly fancied Penny Black last Friday night, running his second sub 2:42 time in as many starts.
And his closing sectionals of 57.2 and 28.3 were the best in the race, along with his last mile clocking of 1:59.2.
“He’s going good races and I don’t think it’s too bad for him being out wide as he won’t be used up early,” Green said.
“He’s not a strong horse yet but he’s racing honestly and while I couldn’t label him a winner, he should be in it.”
Leo Lincoln comes up against three of the strong Steve and Amanda Telfer team including Delightful Reality, who beat him a half neck two starts back and has the advantage of the pole this week.
Simply Sam gets another chance to break his string of placings when he contests the $30,000 Thames Summer Cup, favourably drawn in two.
Green is happy that Simply Sam is up to the opposition and says he’s “honest as the earth” but he suspects the horse is still not quite right given how he was beaten a neck and a nose last week after a good trip.
“I thought he was a bit disappointing last week - he gets up to them but seems reluctant to run past them. I think we’re getting on top of his tying-up issue but he’s still not 100% I don’t think.
“He steps fast so you’d be mad to leave him out of combo bets but I can’t label him on what he’s shown us this time in. I’ll be happy if he picks up another cheque.”
Maurice McKendry finds My Copy a beautiful trip in the one-one last week.My Copy jumps up from winning a rating 41 to 46 last week to a rating 50 to 56 race but Green says his rivals certainly “don’t stand over him.
“It wouldn’t surprise me to see him win again but he’d need another good trip. Maurice found him a great trip last week and that’s what won it for him.
“He never lets us down. Even when he’s been beaten he’s had excuses.”
My Copy leaves from another niggly draw of five in the eighth race, his stablemate Lincoln River, the second highest rated horse in the race, faring even worse in seven.
“He had no luck last week when stuck out parked and he’ll be looking for a bit of luck again on Friday.
“All four of ours are going well enough and can be in it, subject to a bit of luck.”
More news in Harness
Brace for Ray and Lincoln Farms at Cambridge but Colonel’s placing just as thrilling
Ray: Preferential draw for top fillies makes it tough for everyone else in Golden Gait series
Patient owners hoping high-priced Colonel can salute at Cambridge on Thursday night
Friday’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup all about the standing start manners of Aussie raider
Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”
