$101 winner Lincoln Wave has improved and is worth following in Friday’s derby lead-up

Lincoln Wave and his two in-form stablemates Sugar Ray Lincoln and Leo Lincoln give Lincoln Farms a strong hand in the race it sponsors at Auckland on Friday night.

The Lincoln Farms Pace, the fifth race on a star-studded programme, has attracted a field with many chances, but co-trainer Ray Green says Lincoln Wave is the one to follow.

An upset $101 winner of the $50,000 Sires’ Stakes Semi in his last start at Cambridge, when he pipped Cyclone Rebel, Lincoln Wave is rated only the second favourite at $4.20, even though he has drawn inside the same rival, who opened the $3.80 favourite.

“The Cambridge race has brought him on and I’m sure he’ll go well again. I don’t want to get carried away but he’s a pretty good horse, the best of our three in the race. He’s a year younger than Suger Ray but has a bit more ability.

“It’s hard to know where he’ll take us but he has the potential to be a classic colt.”

Green says Lincoln Wave won’t be butchered from his wide gate of six, with just a week until the $200,000 Woodlands Northern Derby, but if driver Maurice McKendry can work his magic again, he’ll give his rivals something to think about.

McKendry won the Sires’ Stakes Semi with his bold drive on the colt, gunning forward from the same spot on the gate and lucking into the trail when Nymbal broke after a couple of hundred metres.

Green was taken by the way Sugar Ray Lincoln ($12, $3.20) closed behind Louezyana in just his second run this prep.

Officially clocked over his last 800 metres in 55.1 and 400 in 27.9, the fastest sectionals in the race, Sugar Ray finished second, just one and a quarter lengths astern.

“He’s been a slow maturer but I think he’s getting stronger as he gets older - he certainly feels much stronger in his work.”

The winner of five races, Sugar Ray has run sub 2:41 in three of his five 2200 metre wins at Alexandra Park.

Green won’t discount the chances of Leo Lincoln ($27, $5.50) even though he is long in the market.

“He’s in the zone, he’s feeling really great, and he won’t go badly.”

But Green acknowledges that from the outside of the gate Leo Lincoln will need some luck - he enjoyed the perfect trail in his last-start win on the Night Of Champions at Cambridge when he mile rated 1:59.5 for the standing start 2700 metre trip.

Harrison Orange, who took just 20 months to drive 100 winners, blames himself for Jessie Lincoln’s last start gate break.Stick with Jessie

Punters burned by the gate gallop of Jessie Lincoln ($8.50, $2.80) last time at Cambridge would do well to stick with the ship in the last race.

“Harry blamed himself for the horse breaking at the start - he said he asked her to go a bit too quickly off the gate. She shouldn’t do it again.”

Harrison Orange takes the drive again and has the seven alley to contend with but the filly’s red-light flashing run from last at the 400 will ensure she has her supporters again.

Jessie Lincoln finished fourth, only a photo finish from third, before being disqualified for galloping more than 150 metres at the start.

Rivergirl Bella ($23, $5.50) has drawn one inside Jessie Lincoln on Friday night but will need a perfect drive from Peter Ferguson to feature.

“She has got a bit of speed but she can’t carry it very far,” Green said.

“But if she gets the right trip, and gets out at the right time, not too soon, she’s always a chance.”

Last start at Cambridge, Rivergirl Bella ranged up three wide on the home turn like she was going to run right into it but only battled over the last 150 metres when third.

Marylynes Boy ($23, $5.50) will find it even tougher on debut from four on the second row.

The Vincent two-year-old, raced by co-trainer Nathan Delany, has been trialling fairly.

“He’s been training well but he’s only a little colt having his first start and from the second row I think Nathan will be happy to just see him get around safely.”

Spiritual Bliss downs Final Change at Auckland in January. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.Bliss drawn to lead

Spiritual Bliss ($13, $1.95) runs into Francent ($1.40) again in the ninth race but Green tips she’ll finish a lot closer than last time at Cambridge when she was parked on a 1:55.1 mile rate outside the classy southern mare, who clocked a sizzling 2:37.3 for the 2200 metres.

“She’s racing better horses now and has done well to cop getting parked in some hard-run races.

“Leading is her go and she’ll get her chance from the inside draw.”

Spiritual Bliss, who gives away 30 rating points to Francent, is nevertheless very tough and ran a 1:55.3 mile rate for 1700 metres at the Park on Christmas Eve.

Prince Lincoln ($6.50, $2.35) and Colonel Lincoln ($19, $4.60) open the batting for Lincoln Farms’ nine-strong team in the first race, Prince Lincoln clearly best from his perfect draw.

“The draw helps as he likes being in front,” Green said.

“The raw ability is there but from time to time he’s reluctant to show it. But that last start was a vast improvement.”

Prince Lincoln, heavily backed from the same draw at Cambridge, led and was run down only late by Mick Konstantin.

“Colonel Lincoln was definitely in need of the run first-up and will benefit from another. He’s been off the scene for a long time.”