Ray’s view on Friday’s Sires’ Stakes heat: Sugar Ray getting stronger all the time
By Barry Lichter • 4 September 2024
Don’t expect Sugar Ray Lincoln ($31, $6) to get too involved early in Friday night’s first Sires’ Stakes heat at Auckland despite drawing best of the favourites.
But Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green is expecting a good run from the improving colt against what he describes as a very even bunch of two-year-olds.
“We haven’t asked him to leave the gate yet - he probably has the speed if you wanted to - but I’d like him to have a bit more confidence before we do that.
“He’s quite an immature colt but he’s coming to it and getting stronger as he matures. He’ll end up quite a strong horse.”
Green was pleased to hear driver Maurice McKendry report Sugar Ray felt strong in winning his workout at Pukekohe last Thursday.
After trailing third, McKendry moved out to the death seat 700 metres out before powering home to nose out race rival Captain Sampson, closing in 57.7 and a slick 26.5.
Sugar Ray Lincoln … not ready to be pushed out of the gate.“Maurice said he didn’t quite handle the corners as good as he’d like but otherwise he felt good.”
Green liked the way Sugar Ray finished when seventh in his last race at Auckland on July 26.
“He was very wide most of the way and was closing better than anything in the race,” Green said.
Three wide and three back for the last 1100 metres, Sugar Ray did extremely well to record 56.8 and 27.7 and his last mile of 1:59.9 was second fastest only to winner Semba.
Cord broke
That despite McKendry being unable to pull the deafeners when the cord broke - “it’s hard to tell how much that would have affected him,” Green said.
Green said no one horse stood out in Friday’s race. Likely favourite Bar Louie had shown he could do things wrong and Confederate and the other two Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained runners were all on the second row.
“I don’t see anything that stands over them so it’s not a foregone conclusion and our two colts are both nice.”
Lincoln Lou ($21, $4) would need luck from the outside of the gate but Green said he was a good little horse who was seldom out of the money.
Pipped two necks last start by Runkle Crunch and Hearts N Aces, Lincoln Lou was clocked over his last 800 in 56 and 400 in 27.4.
And before that he was nailed only in the shadows of the post by Semba.
“He’s a good little horse who is getting stronger all the time.”
Lincoln La Moose runs fourth dragging a punctured tyre.Three unlucky runners
Green is expecting good runs from all three of his runners in the second race, Lincoln La Moose, Obadiah Dragon and Leo Lincoln all devoid of luck in recent starts.
Lincoln La Moose ($34, $7.50), who has the advantage of the pole, had his finish blunted last start after getting a puncture 1400 metres from home.
Despite that he still issued a sprint lane challenge, coming up only 2.3 lengths short of winner Upstage.
Stable driver Nathan Delany takes the reins on Friday.
Leo Lincoln ($9, $2.80) had zero luck last time at Auckland last week, everything going sweetly in the one-one before he was checked out of the race, not once but twice.
No sooner had parked runner Joe’s Rock come back on him at the 500 than Invisible scouted round his outer and galloped, checking him again.
“Prior to last time he’d hardly ever missed a cheque.” said Green who has engaged McKendry again from a tricky seven draw.
Green believes Obadiah Dragon ($13, $3.70) and regular driver Andre Poutama could trump their stablemates from the perfect two draw.
“He could be our best of the night. He’s been going good races all along and has just got back a bit too far in some of them.”
Four back on the markers last week, Obadiah Dragon closed in 55.7 and, though held up, finished just 2.3 lengths away in sixth, his last section of 27.3 equal fastest with winner Frisco Bay.
Frisco Bay ($15, $3.70) gets a good draw in the $35,000 Northern Metro Final but will have to be every bit as good as Green hopes he is to win.
“Last week he showed he’s up with the nice three-year-olds. He’d have to beat this lot to really stamp himself but I’m hoping he can pick up some of the money.
“On paper barrier four gives him an advantage on the favourites but it’s a handy field and Hawkeye Pierce looks best of them at this stage.”
More news in Harness
‘The Kid’ flying but Argyle up against it to add good points in novel drivers’ challenge
Street’s emotion-charged night in the winners’ room - sad loss before a record four wins
It’s green jackets all the way and Ray fancies improving surprise packet Prince Lincoln
The Lincoln Wave secret is well and truly out now, but who was that mystery underbidder?
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
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.
