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
By Barry Lichter • 25 September 2024
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
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Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Bang! Lincoln Wave’s tyre blows out, startling rival drivers but Alabar win would shock more
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
