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Ray reaches for the shades to stop Leo from switching off at Auckland on Friday night

Trainer Ray Green is hoping the addition of blinds will help keep Leo Lincoln’s mind on the job at Auckland on Friday night.

The Art Major two-year-old appeared to throw away a win last week when, just 50 metres from home he eased off the pedal, allowing two runners to swamp him by half a head and half a neck.

When driver Andre Poutama swept up four wide turning for home and pounced on the leaders, Leo Lincoln looked to be in for his second win as a maiden - a rare luxury because his dead-heat win at Cambridge in August meant he didn’t go up in grade.

Invisible and Delightful Reality swamp Leo Lincoln on the line.Invisible and Delightful Reality swamp Leo Lincoln on the line.It was a good effort considering from five on the gate, he was trapped out three wide in no man’s land round the first turn.

Leo starts from the same position on the arm on Friday night but is drawn inside the likely favourite, The Telfer-trained Slots.

“Hopefully he can get in sooner this week and he should go better,” Green said. “They went 2:41.7 last time too and it was only his second run for a while so he probably needed it.”

Green’s own horse My Copy gets his chance at odds when he drops significantly in grade in the third race.

Don’t be fooled by his last-start eighth in a rating 47 to 53 race - it was much better than it would appear on paper.

Forced to drop back to the rear from the outside gate, driver Maurice McKendry was still last turning for home but made good ground to finish only four lengths from Nelson’s Boy. Only one horse in the race bettered My Copy’s closing sectionals of 55.4 and 28.2.

On Friday night he runs in an average looking rating 41 to 46 race, his only handicap a niggly gate.

“Six is a tricky draw so he’ll need luck,” Green said. “But you can’t fault anything he’s done this time in and this field is a lot easier than last time.”

Green can’t see Onyx Shard matching her stablemate from the outside draw.

“She’s had no chance with the draws and trips she’s been getting. From the outside she’s going to struggle to get a decent run again but hopefully she’ll finish on well.”

Simply Sam and Lincoln River both look chances in the sixth race, Green favouring Sam because of his better turn of foot.

“River lacks a bit of high speed but makes up for it by being very rugged and he’s drawn to get a good trip.

“He’s such a little pro I think he’ll manage the step up in class.”

Andre Poutama is stuck in the trail behind eventual winner Miki Shan and has to yank him sideways to try to find a gap.Andre Poutama is stuck in the trail behind eventual winner Miki Shan and has to yank him sideways to try to find a gap.Simply Sam had a couple of excuses for finishing only sixth last week.

Bottled up three back on the pegs, Poutama was frustrated for a pegs run behind eventual winner Miki Shan and was only two lengths away at the line.

“I took a blood off him also which showed he was slightly tied up which explains his lack of enthusiasm at the finish.

“I’m hoping he’s better this week and, with his speed, if he’s sitting on River’s back you’d expect him to roll over the top of him.”

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Peter Ferguson

Fergie tips

Tuesday twilight at Manawatu

Race 1: What’s Up The Hill
4.14pm

“That was a big improvement on Sunday and I thought he’d won. I suggested they put a loose headcheck on him after his last start and that definitely helped. He’ll be a chance again on Tuesday, as long as he backs up, and he seemed pretty relaxed after the race.”

Race 2: Leo Lincoln
4.39pm

“Blinkers go on this time and, from one, it looks to be his best chance. I’ll be coming out fast and trying to lead and the way he felt on the first day, and with the make-up of the field, I think he can. It’s taken a few runs to get him sharper this time in, he’s been a bit lacklustre, but he’s ready to go now.”

Race 4: Onyx Shard
5.29pm

“She might have run only fourth on the first day but went massive really. If she can just be one place closer in the running, she would go close.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 1: Sugar Ray Lincoln
4.38pm

“He’s trained on well and on his best form, he’d be hard to beat. But I don’t know what to expect from him, he’s a hard horse to read.”

Race 1: Im Not The Maid
4.38pm

“She can’t win. She’s only in the race because there’s nowhere else to go at the moment. She’s in a very unfair spot in the ratings.”

Race 5: Lincoln La Moose
6.53pm

“He’s very honest and from one he’ll get a nice trip, which will help, but he’s really just going round to lose rating points.”

Race 10: Lincoln Linda
9.24pm

“On her speed alone she has to be a chance. We’ve got her geared up so she’s not trying to kill herself any more. We’re using a different bit which gives the driver more control over her and she’s submitted to it well in training.”

Race 10: Angelic Copy
9.24pm

“She had a minor tie-up earlier in the week but I’m not too worried as she’s bouncing around today. We get her blood test back on Thursday, and we won’t risk her if she’s not right, but if she lines up, she’ll race pretty well. She’s a proper little racehorse and you can’t fault what she’s done.”

Dan Costello Race Photography