
Sugar Ray Lincoln has the better of Shake A Leg at Auckland in June. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Better set-up at Auckland on Friday night for Sugar Ray to produce that knockout punch
A good draw and a small field should help Sugar Ray Lincoln show his best at Auckland on Friday night.
That’s the view of Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green who has watched the two-year-old battle bravely in recent starts with little luck.
Copy That’s little brother has been forced to make wide runs round big fields in his recent racing, drawing six, seven, seven and seven in four of his last five starts.
“They soon get sick of that,” said Green of the overland trips.
“He just hasn’t been able to put himself in a good spot but with a half decent trip from two on Friday I think he can finish in the top three.”
Despite launching four wide 600 metres from home in a Sires’ Stakes heat last time, Sugar Ray Lincoln recorded the fastest third quarter of 27.2 before battling on for seventh. And that was after being nearly KOed by stablemate Lincoln Lou on the first bend.
When put into the race in his previous start, after drawing three in another Sires’ Stakes heat, Sugar Ray sat parked for the last lap and still hung in there for fourth behind Captain Sampson, Lincoln Lou and Confederate, clocking 55.9 and 27.3 on the way home.
With the suspension of regular driver Maurice McKendry, the job of finding the best trip round on Friday night falls to David Butcher but he has all the options from two on the gate.
And, while he takes on older horses this time, Sugar Ray has only five rivals, including fellow two-year-old Runkle Crunch.
Frisco Bay, who has come back in fine form this preparation, winning two of his four starts, faces a much tougher test in the sixth race.
The three-year-old sat in the trail last start when winning a rating 43 to 50 event but advances this time to a rating 53 to 64 field which is full of in-form, progressive types.
“It will be a good test for him. He’s got to front up to these horses now but given another soft trip I think he can be competitive.”
With Zachary Butcher preferring to drive the Purdon/Phelan runner Always B Elite, and Andre Poutama behind Blazing Louie, the seat will be warmed this week by champion reinsman Tony Herlhy.
More news in Harness
Friday night’s main event: In the blue corner, Tyson, in the red corner, Sugar Ray
After 40 years in the sulky, Fergie’s just loving his renaissance in the lincoln green silks
Big-spending Mike Tanev snares The Rascal and he’s off to Canada next week
Dreams Of Eric goes from black and blue to blue and white, now for Harness 5000
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”