Two out with virus but Ray still has plenty of Lincoln power at Auckland on Friday night
By Barry Lichter • 7 August 2024
A mild virus has forced Sugar Ray Lincoln and My Copy out of racing at Auckland on Friday night.
Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green suspected something wasn’t quite right with Sugar Ray when he trained the colt this morning and, after My Copy also worked below par, he took blood from the pair.
“They’ve got elevated white cell counts so I don’t want to risk them. It’s not terrible but it’s enough to dull their performances and possibly make them worse if you ran them.”
Green said it was a shame given both horses were racing well.
“I thought Sugar Ray got home better than anything last start and My Copy has been in the zone for a while. But I’m not going to run them if they’re carrying any passengers.”
Green said while it was possible some of the other horses in his team might now be susceptible to the virus, he believes fellow two-year-olds Tyson and Lincoln Lou are well and they will take their place in the fourth race.
While a post-viral Lincoln Lou could have been half a run short last start when surprisingly run down, Green says the winner Semba ran a “monster race” sitting parked and was obviously very good.
“He wasn’t beaten far (a head) and I’m sure he’ll go another good race. He’s more reliable than Tyson but we should get a better line on him this week. You can’t really assess them until you know how good the others are.”
Tyson looked good, pipping Turn O The Tide up the passing lane last time but faces a tougher line-up this week, including the unbeaten Bar Louie and the unbeaten triallist Hearts N Aces.
Lincoln La Moose and Obadiah Dragon give Lincoln Farms a strong hand in the second race.
Lincoln La Moose … drawn to lead. PHOTO Ange Bridson/Race Images.Moose gets the pole
Lincoln La Moose goes from pole position, which could be all he needs to return to the winner’s circle.
The improving three-year-old had a torrid trip from a wide gate last week, forced to sit parked for the last lap after an aborted tilt for the lead a round from home.
But he showed how potent he was at 1700 metres in his previous start when, from the same inside draw, he led then trailed stablemate Lincoln Lou, before lodging a strong passing lane bid to finish just a head and half a length behind Semba.
Green says Lincoln La Moose is hard fit now after four runs back this prep and, with Zachary Butcher again at the helm, looks the one to beat.
But Green believes it would be folly to rule out Obadiah Dragon whose form line of 343883 was deceptive.
“He’s a nice horse - he’s just been unlucky. He’s not one who can burn the candle at both ends, not many can. But if he gets the right run, he’s generally in the hunt.”
When Lincoln La Moose was on retreat last week, Obadiah Dragon was just getting warmed up and turned in one of the runs of the race to finish only one and a quarter lengths and a neck behind Secrets Abound.
Starting a three wide run 400 metres from home, Obadiah Dragon and Andre Poutama were pushed four wide turning for home yet still posted the best closing sectionals in the race, 56.6 and 27.7, with the best last mile in 1:58.9.
Kline better with time
Green says he was tempted not to run Kevin Kline in the sixth race.
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with him - he trained OK this week - but I like him and don’t want to abuse him.
“He’s a big, rangy two-year-old who’s not strong enough yet and it won’t do him any good shunting him out there too often. He needs a bit of time so I’ll be backing off him soon.”
But Green saw enough from the Always B Miki gelding on debut to confirm his rating as a nice pacer in the making.
Kevin Kline broke in the score-up at Alexandra Park last week, but found his spot only to gallop again as the gate pulled away.
Settling 10 lengths off the second last horse, Kevin Kline looked to be well out of the race but he caught the field and was putting in some eye-catching work late, looking for gaps in the run home and finishing less than four lengths from the winner Predator.
The inexperienced gelding ran the fastest last mile of 1:59.5 and the second fastest closing splits of 56.7 and 27.9.
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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.
