Louie LeBeau and Sugar Apple primed for bold runs at Auckland on Thursday night
By Barry Lichter • 3 August 2021
Promising two-year-olds Sugar Apple and Louie LeBeau give Lincoln Farms a solid two-pronged attack on the sixth race at Auckland on Thursday night.
Both horses are coming off back-to-back workout wins at Pukekohe, Louie LeBeau set to debut from the second row and Sugar Apple resuming from five on the gate.
Over the mobile mile, Sugar Apple gets the chance to probe for the lead, having shown high gate speed at his last start when leading the Two-Year-Old Emerald field at Cambridge in early June.
But trainer Ray Green says he’ll be happy to see the Sweet Lou colt take a trail.
“The raw ability is there he just needs to get stronger. He can’t cop too much pressure at the moment but if he gets sucked along and pounces on them he’s quite effective.
Sugar Apple in high spirits at Cambridge on Harness Jewels day when he led the Two-Year-Old Emerald.“His half brother American Dealer was the same. He used to need a trip to beat the good horses but he showed in Queensland that he can take it to them now. This little guy theoretically is the same.”
Last Saturday at Pukekohe Sugar Apple came from the trail to outsprint his rivals in a 2050 metre heat, home in 56.8 and 27.5, while he led all the way the previous Friday, sprinting home in 56.3.
Louie LeBeau has also impressed in his two workouts this time in, leading in the first, then coming from last with a sweeping home turn sprint that carried him to a half length win.
Green describes the American Ideal youngster as a nice colt with good gait and manners.
“He’s got stronger and will continue to as he’s still growing. He’s a lovely horse with raw ability and it’s hard to know just yet how far he’ll take us.
“Two on the second row might not be the worst place for him as he can get fired up. This is his first night at the races but he should still go well.”
Lincoln Farms’ third runner, Arden’s Horizon, takes on the older horses in the second race and is hugely disadvantaged drawn the outside of the front line over the mile.
“But he’s a strong colt with a bit of class about him,” says Green. “If he can get a decent run into it, he won’t be far away.
“I certainly don’t see him burning out from eight. He’ll be looking for a trip and if he gets some luck he’s a chance.”
Arden’s Horizon, who never got into the action on Jewels day from a second row draw, has looked sharp in his two recent workout placings, sprinting stylishly when just photo-finished by Be My Rose and Miss Hathaway last Saturday.
Two starts back he looked unlucky not to finish closer than sixth behind Suntan, held up 100 metres out when motoring home from the back.
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.”
