Lou out with a bug, so it’s up to Sugar Ray and Tyson to do the heavy hitting at Auckland
By Barry Lichter • 11 July 2024
Lincoln Farms’ stranglehold on Friday night’s two-year-old race at Auckland dissipated a fraction tonight with the scratching of Lincoln Lou.
Trainer Ray Green said the early $2.20 favourite had been scratched on vet’s advice.
“He looked a little seedy this morning and also left a bit of food so we took a blood and it turns out he’s picked up a bit of a virus.”
Green said it was lucky the symptoms surfaced today, avoiding the possibility of causing the horse harm by racing him.
“It’s unfortunate but it’s not like it’s the derby on Friday, it’s just another race. We’ll just have to win it with Sugar Ray Lincoln or Tyson.”
Lincoln Lou’s withdrawal, plus that of Carrera Hombre, leaves only a five-horse field and has dramatically affected the fixed odds market with Sugar Ray Lincoln now the $1.55 favourite, Stonewall Stud’s best runner Debrief second fancy at $3.90 and Tyson next best at $4.40.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.58pm
“Drawn out wide makes it tough over 1700 metres but he’s been making his own luck. He’s not brilliant out but if he pushes on to be handy he’s got to be a big chance again. He needs to be up there on the pace or he doesn’t try too hard.”
Race 6: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.57pm
“You can’t fault what Sugar Ray’s been doing lately, and he’s been getting out with them, so he has to be a serious chance from the inside.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.57pm
“Kev and Sugar Ray are pretty much on a par. Kev never goes a bad race, he’s just such a professional.”
Race 7: Johnny Lincoln
8.23pm
“He’s been racing too keenly but he won’t pull this time. We’ve got a different bit on him so Maurice will have him under control.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.23pm
“He’ll need to get stronger and you couldn’t see him beating Fugitive from the outside of the arm.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.48pm
“It will be interesting to see what she can do from a good draw - she’s got some speed and if she holds up early she’ll get a good trip. But she, too, needs to get stronger.”
