Kevin Kline (Maurice McKendry) handed out a thrashing on Friday night. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Ray: Improving Kevin Kline won’t be out of place in the bright lights of Broadway
By Barry Lichter • 30 November 2024
Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green is looking forward to tackling richer purses over Christmas-New Year with Kevin Kline after his dominant win at Auckland on Friday night.
“He gave them a comprehensive flogging and he’s potentially a really nice horse,” Green said after driver Maurice McKendry speared the two-year-old clear to beat Spirited Peggy by two and a quarter lengths.
“Maurice said he just jogged it. And even though he ran only 2:44.8, if he’d had to go 2:42 or 2:41, no problem.”
Kevin Kline earned a winning stake of $8250 plus an Entain bonus of $6000, Green miffed the two-year-old incentive was halved because it was not solely a race for two-year-olds.
“Most of his opposition were just average horses and I know there’ll be more competition for the better purses over Christmas but I’m not too worried as he’s pretty classy.
“It’s a big transition from winning a race to racing other winners, and it can be quite daunting for some, but he’s a bit different.
“Most of the time you win a race and think: what am I going to do now?, but he could develop into a tidy racehorse.”
Green said even though the Always B Miki gelding could already run a half in 55 he would only get better with time.
“He’s tall, but not big bodied so he has a lot of strengthening to come. He’s actually come a long way quite quickly.
“When we first leased him from (breeder) Pat Laboyrie he had been only very basically broken in. He and Tyson were out of the same paddock and had been in the cart only twice I think.”
Green credited Andre Poutama with doing the early breaking in at Lincoln Farms. And, from a timid baby who didn’t really know what was going on, Kevin Kline now enjoyed his jogging.
“He’s done a good job from a humble start and to win at only his fifth start shows he’s a pretty good horse.”
Kevin Kline is the eighth and last foal of six-race winner Matai Mies, his first two foals the best, Emily Blunt and Happy Place, who both won eight races.
Green said there had been no shortage of people wanting shares in the horse, one of the latest of Lincoln Farms’ special partnerships.
The big team now includes Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street, Priscilla Edmunds, Lance Myocevich, Trevor Casey, the Red and Blue Syndicate, Ray Menzies, Dave and Daphne Jones, Margaret Rabbitt, Jason Deane and Brent Mulholland.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Debbie Lincoln
5.26pm
“She had to sit parked most of the way last time but still went well, and that’s what she does. She’s proven to be a very promising filly and, while it’s hard these days to win without a good trip, it’s an even field and she’s a good chance again.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lou
5.55pm
“He probably cost himself a win last week by going roughly, but he can do that. If he’d got Frisco Bay’s trip he would have won with his closing quarters of 56 and 27 the fastest in the race. He’s just got to do things right to be the one to beat, even from the bad draw, as it’s an easier field.”
Race 5: Frisco Bay
7.30pm
“He’s up in grade a bit but I don’t think there’s anything between them. He’s just got to get the right run and, with his speed, he’ll be right in it.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.59pm
“He’s no superstar but he’s very honest and he’s always a place chance as he’s a tough bugger, he sat parked last week.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.59pm
“With a similar run to last week, he’d be right in it. He clocked 55.8 and 27.7, doing his best work at the finish. He hasn’t gone a bad race since he’s come back.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.59pm
“I wasn’t expecting him to do anything on debut as he’s a green, young horse. But he went very well so he’s obviously lifted his game for the occasion. And he’s trained on even better so the experience has enhanced him. From the inside he has to be a good chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.59pm
“She’s definitely a better animal left-handed but she was passable right-handed and should go better this time. She’s got some speed.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.59pm
“She’s a nice filly but is behind the others. I don’t expect her to beat anything but she needs the experience.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
8.59pm
“There won’t be any shadows for her to jump this time so she has to be a serious chance. She’d been dominant at the workouts and trials before her debut but didn’t get the chance to show her true worth.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.59pm
“Fergie was quite impressed with him on debut and requested the drive again. He finished on strongly up the lane and should go well again. He just needs some luck from the outside of the gate.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 3: Argyle
9.04pm NZ time
“I thought his last two starts have been terrific. There’s no doubt this race is tougher, and he has trickier draw, but I was talking to Angus last night and he was quite upbeat about his chances. He said the horse gave him a good feel when he sat parked two starts back and he picked him too (in the draft). But it won’t be easy. There could be a bit of pressure early. I think he’ll come out and see what unfolds and, if there is too much pressure, he’ll drive him quietly.”
Ray’s comments
Sunday at Manawatu
Race 1: Onyx Shard
5.29pm
“You can put a line through her last run at Cambridge when she pulled up showing signs of a respiratory infection. She had a couple of weeks off after that and, while she hasn’t trialled since, she’s been training down nicely. She’s a nice filly and from the good draw should really win.”
Race 3: Lincoln La Moose
6.19pm
“He wasn’t far away in the amateur race at Auckland last time despite jumping a shadow early and galloping. This is a decent drop in class for him and he should be very competitive.
