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Lou out with a bug, so it’s up to Sugar Ray and Tyson to do the heavy hitting at Auckland

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.

Our runners this week

Friday night at Auckland

What’s Up The Hill.

Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Nathan Delany

Nathan’s comments

Tuesday twilight at Manawatu

Race 3: Onyx Shard
5.09pm

“She’s working really well and, from the good draw, hopefully she can run a drum. The field’s not that much harder than the one she beat last time at Manawatu (when parked for the last lap).”

Race 3: Kevin Kline
5.09pm

“We’re very happy with him - he’s come back a better horse. He went well at Auckland last start and is working well. We’ll be looking to go forward from the gate and hopefully get a gun run through behind Onyx Shard. On ability, he’s the better chance of the two.”

Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.39pm

“He stepped like a bullet in his first go from a stand here in March. I thought he’d do the same on the second day but he galloped. We’ve got an overcheck on and hopple shorteners on Tuesday so he should make a good beginning. If he can step and lead, then maybe take a trail, he should be hard to beat. He likes it down there where the track is quite soft.”

Dan Costello Race Photography