Frisco Bay … better drawn on Friday night and has a run under his belt. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
Better draw will help Frisco but Ray’s quartet for Friday all in early stages of new prep
By Barry Lichter • 28 February 2024
Trainer Ray Green is hoping an improved draw will help Frisco Bay show his real worth at Auckland on Friday night.
But Green isn’t about to label any of Lincoln Farms’ four runners on the night, each in the early stages of new preparations.
Green says he was a little disappointed with Frisco Bay at Cambridge last Friday night when driver Andre Poutama whipped round the field a lap from home to sit parked and he dropped out to last.
Even though it was his first race in more than five months, Frisco Bay had been expected to go well after a throat operation which saw him trialling like his old self.
“He pulled his way round the field and sat outside the leader but he couldn’t cop a run like that first-up and got tired.
“He obviously needed it and the run will help him get fitter. The ability is there, whether he’s fit enough or not we’ll find out. But I expect him to go well, the three draw is much better than last week.”
Green suspects Lenny Lincoln might need the run in the same race, his first for three months.
“He’ll probably need a race but he’s capable of running a slot. He’s unlucky not to have won a race, all three of his seconds were good.”
Those efforts, behind the likes of Always B Elite, The Surfer and Medina Magic, confirmed the Vincent gelding was honest but Green says he’ll need to improve a notch.
“He’s got a bit better with each of his trials this time in and he got home well last Saturday, after coming widest on the turn.”
Driven by Nathan Delany, Lenny Lincoln improved from the back of the field and was doing his best work at the finish, one and a half lengths and a nose from winner Vinnie Turbo.
Green also lines up two improvers in the following race, Leo Lincoln and Obadiah Dragon.
Consistent Leo Lincoln out on his own in this win at Auckland last December. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.Leo Lincoln has had a month’s freshen-up after three excellent races in December when he won and ran fine seconds to Penny Black in a slick 2:41.4 and Christopher Vance when he beat home Friday night’s hot favourite Twista.
“Leo needed a break, he’d backed up quite a few weeks on end,” Green said. “He’s very consistent - he’s only missed a couple of cheques.
“And he just couldn’t cop a run like last time when he sat parked behind Jeremiah.
“He’s another just coming back and should improve with the run.”
Leo Lincoln has drawn the inside of the second row but maps to get a cushy pegs run with pole runner Akatea sure to hold a forward spot.
Obadian Dragon’s run last week, when sixth of nine, was better than it looked, says Green, even though he shared the rear in the running and finished 8.3 lengths from the winner, Potter.
“The way the race was run, his effort wasn’t bad at all. Moni (Monika Ranger) said he felt strong and, if he’d been a few slots closer, he would have been right in it.
“He’ll be improved for the run.”
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Spirited Belle
4.46pm
Delany: “I saw she’d been punted but somebody must know something we don’t as I’ve been working her myself and, while she feels all right and hasn’t put the boot in like at Auckland, I think she’ll need the run. She hasn’t got any high speed but feels like she will stay. She has improved a bit but I’d be surprised if she won.”
Race 1: Lincoln Maree
4.46pm
“It’s always hard from these draws but she’s a tough mare who will make her own luck at some stage. She’s going well enough - her drivers have all been happy - and she’s a little warrior who tries like hell.”
Race 2: Major Copy
5.12pm
“He’s only two and very inexperienced but he feels like a good colt and there’s a lot of improvement in him. He certainly caught a lot of people’s attention last time. I don’t know how good he is yet but he’ll be right there.”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.12pm
“If he can lead without having to do too much work I can’t see anything beating him. I thought he went great last start. He pressed the winner hard ’til the corner then just flattened out in the run home, but he had every reason to do that after all the work he’d done.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.12pm
“She’s been undone by bad draws. If she led easily from three she’d be hard to beat as she’s a good front-runner.”
Race 4: Spirited Peggy
6.12pm
“We’ve had her for only two weeks but she’s seven now and has had her chance to win one. She has a bit of speed but I think she gets pulling so we’ve got the Hidez (compression) hood on her and plugged her ears up.”
Race 6: Copy N Paste
7.10pm
“We won’t see the best of him for another six months. He’s been a slow developing horse but is improving all the time and getting stronger.”
Race 6: Jessie Lincoln
7.10pm
“If I was having a bet on one of them in the race it would be her. She deserves to win one. Her last two have been really good - she just ran into one who was a bit slicker last time in Major Copy.”
Race 6: Lincoln Dealer
7.10pm
“He’s a bit one-dimensional - you’ve got to feed him track and let him run - so the second row draw is a big handicap. To his credit I was surprised he finished so close last time after all the work he did. When he gets a decent draw and crosses them they’ll know they’re at the races. He’s got a big motor and tries hard.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.08pm
“She clawed her way to the front last time but had nothing left at the finish. That won’t happen this time and she should lead easily from one.”
Race 8: Angelic Copy
8.08pm
“She’s had terrible draws but has been going good races. The others last time were just better than her but this is a big drop in class. With the right trip she could get some of it at huge odds.”
Race 9: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.35pm
“He’s not quick away from a stand but he won’t muff it completely. He steps from the front line and Peter Ferguson was quite happy with his last run.”
Race 9: Lincoln Wave
8.35pm
“He bombed the stand the first time but to be fair all those horses were rushing up at him from the back and that panicked him a bit. He’s on 10 metres this time so that won’t happen.”
