Ray predicting there’s plenty of fun ahead for Lincoln Farms’ owners after busy workout day
Trainer Ray Green is tipping Lincoln Farms and its owners will be in for plenty of fun when his team hits the racetrack next month.
Green lined up 14 horses at the Pukekohe workouts yesterday and, despite it being their first serious hitout since lockdown, a swag of them impressed.
Green produced nine horses in the last four heats, notching a perfect three quinellas and a trifecta, and three of his earlier five runners ran improver’s placings.
Among those to catch the eye were Larry Lincoln, who beat stablemates American Dealer and Man Of Action, and Tommy Lincoln who nosed out Copy That.
Larry Lincoln, an impressive winner of his sole start last October, looked a winner-in-waiting when he led all the way for Andre Poutama in a 2050 metre heat for rating 53 to 57 pacers.
The sweet going Sweet Lou colt had two lengths in reserve at the line, after reeling off his last half in 57.7 and quarter in 26.9 to record the fastest time of the day of 2:35.6.
Green has made no secret of how much he thinks of Larry Lincoln.
“He was lame as a cat when he won his debut at Cambridge,” said Green. “He had soft bones and kept going sore when we put the pressure on him.”
Green wisely sent the horse for a long spell after his win and he has come back with a vengeance.
American Dealer also made an auspicious start to his career last February, winning a Young Guns heat at Auckland before running a game fourth in the Final. He looked ready to carry right on with that form when cuddled up in the trail yesterday by David Butcher and not hooked out in the run home.
Man Of Action was only a nose back third for Zachary Butcher, despite smashing the wheel discs.
Tommy Lincoln, unsighted since the Northern Derby in March, also looked an early winner when he led throughout the rating 53 and faster 2050 metre heat for David Butcher, ripping home in 56.9 and 26.9 to photo-finish top three-year-old Copy That in 2:36.1.
“Tommy’s always been a nice horse,” said Green. “He tries very hard and loves to roll along in front.”
Grade A report card
Green could not say enough about Copy That who got an A report card from Zachary Butcher.
“I was really happy with him,” said Butcher. “He didn’t put in any of the fancy steps he used to have and, while he ran out a bit on the second last bend, when he was up and running on the last bend, and concentrating, he felt super.
“He knocked off a little in the straight but when I gave him a slap on the arse he picked it right up again. Those good horses know when they have to do it and when they don’t.”
Green couldn’t believe just how low Copy That’s heart rate was afterwards when he was scraping him down. While Tommy Lincoln had a rate of 88, Copy That’s was just 76.
“He’s always had a tremendous heart and recovery rate. He’s so laid back and has always had a big engine. He can carry his speed that much further than most other horses.”
Copy That trialled yesterday with no boring pole and no spreader, another indication that the horse had really lifted his game from last campaign, said Green.
Owner Merv Butterworth was keen to tackle the A$50,000 South East Derby at Albion Park in Queensland on July 18 but Green said he didn’t know whether he could overcome COVID-19 restrictions.
Queensland’s borders are still closed and Green said he didn’t fancy “simply posting the horse over” and not being able to train him himself.
Jeff Beck nosed out stablemate Brian Christopher in the final learners’ heat, taking the lead a few hundred metres after the start for Zachary Butcher and clocking a sedate 2:46.7.
He was solid over his last 400 in 28.4 but Green has booked him in to be gelded this week.
“I think it will be the making of him,” said Butcher.
Green said Brian Christopher was making progress but was more a long term proposition.
Speedy unraced Captaintreacherous filly Spice It Up shaped up nicely when second in her learners’ heat for David Butcher.
Handled patiently five back in the running, Spice It Up improved four and five wide around the home turn and sprinted nicely to finish within a length of winner Goodealehmaddie, who capitalised on a perfect trail and marker run up the stretch.
Louie The Punter, a brother of former Lincoln Farms’ Mr Consistency Double Or Nothing, continued his dramatic improvement in recent weeks when he finished only a nose back third.
Aurora Stride ran a distant last after mixing her gait several times in the running.
* Check out the earlier story on Ryan Fox to see how Green’s other runners Captain Nemo, Apieceoflou, Franco Nandor and Bondi Shake fared.
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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.”