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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Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Copy N Paste a ‘tradesman’ but look for bold debut run at Cambridge on Thursday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
6.38pm
“I’m not sure where she’s at. It’s a big drop in class - there’s not much in there - but I don’t think she’ll morph into a star. She was hitting the sulky wheels last time and over-racing but that won’t happen again.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.36pm
“She paced roughly last time but we’ve done a bit of work on her since so she should be happier this time. It depends on the trip she gets (from four) but she’ll go an honest race. She’s no superstar, but she doesn’t miss many cheques.”
Race 8: Copy N Paste
8.45pm
“He’s dour and tradesman-like but he’s getting there. It’s his first time off the place, and the trip will improve him, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him competitive in what is a very weak field. Sometimes you don’t know what the Bettors Delights have got until they front up at the races but he trialled well and beat a couple who are against him here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.53pm
“He actually tried last time. He’s a nice horse but can change his mind quickly. Full blinds woke him up last time so we’ll see if he responds to them again this time.”
Race 3: Omaha Lincoln
5.46pm
“I think he’ll go a good race but it’s his first time at Alexandra Park so I don’t want to talk him up too much. He’s got enough ability to win a race like this, whether he’s ready to do it, we’ll find out. He can get a bit keen at times but I think he’s a chance if he does everything right.”
Race 5: Spiritual Bliss
6.54pm
“It was another great run last time after leading and she’s a good, tough mare who will go another good race. What trip she gets will determine where she finishes. From five, I’m picking she might go back this time but I’ll leave that up to the driver (Harrison Orange).”
Race 6: Sharpe Stride
7.24pm
“He’s a nice trotter, a big strong colt. He can get a bit hot but there’s nothing wrong with how he goes. He’s certainly not good enough to deal with these but he’s there for a run around.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.57pm
“He’s racing in career-best form and they were struggling for runners so I put him in. He gets a starting fee of $1750 so we won’t go home empty-handed. I’m really happy with him, he’s handling right-handed racing better these days. But he’s racing the bear cats so I’m not suggesting for a second he’ll give them a fright.”
Race 10: Colonel Lincoln
9.25pm
“I thought he went super last time. It was a vast improvement on the previous two starts and you’ve got to remember he was out for a long time. He’s coming to it now and improving all the time. I couldn’t label him but I’d be surprised if he’s not in the first three or four. He’s trained on well and gets a front row draw.”
Race 10: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.25pm
“He was given too much to do last time - up to park at the bell - and you can’t drive the ears off them every time. With a more conservative trip he’d be right in it.”
