Big push for The Big Lebowski who looks beautifully placed at Addington on Friday

Punters are climbing into The Big Lebowski at Addington on Friday night loving the fact the giant pacer will enjoy the mobile start and a substantial drop in class.

Newly minted 500 club trainer Ray Green took the horse south, along with three others of the Lincoln Farms’ team, looking for a mobile start to negate his slow standing-start manners.

But he never dreamed The Big Lebowski would not only get a mobile but also escape running against all the country’s fastest pacers like Merlin and Sooner The Bettor.

After two very respectable comeback races for fourth and sixth in the Spring Cup and The Holmes DG, The Big Lebowksi lands in a rating 54 to 70 race.

The highest rated at R70, he has only one horse in the R60s to beat, Kaikoura Aged Classic winner Jimmy James Maguire (R69), with the others all in the R50s.

“He certainly looks good in that field,” said Green acknowledging he couldn’t have wished for a better set-up for the Merv and Meg Butterworth-owned seven-year-old.

“He does look to stand over them. I just hope he doesn’t stuff it up.”

Green has engaged capable driver John Morrison to steer the horse whose odds dropped from $4.80 to $3.20 soon after bookies opened their market.

Green says there’ll be no excuses for The Big Lebowski and the rest of the team for their first big trip away from home.

“They all pulled up well from the flight (last Sunday) and have settled in nicely.”

Green said he was looking forward to seeing how the North Island form stacks up to the mainland form, particularly in the $200,000 Harness Million two-year-old feature where Lincoln Farms will be represented by Sugar Ray Lincoln and Lincoln Lou.

“It’s always very difficult to weigh the form up but traditionally the North Island is stronger.”

Ricky May, right, takes the reins on Sugar Ray Lincoln from fellow 3000 club member Maurice McKendry, left.Methven boy at the helm

Green will hand the reins of last-start winner Sugar Ray Lincoln ($41, $7) to Ricky May, noting the irony of swapping one Methven boy, Maurice McKendry, for another.

“I was surprised Ricky didn’t have a drive. Ricky is one of the best and is patient, like Maurice. I’m hoping he’ll get him round safely.”

But Green said the sometimes quirky Sugar Ray, drawn two on the second row, was at the mercy of the ones drawn in front of him, notably Bar Louie.

“Hopefully Bar Louie doesn’t stand on his head at the start. I’d rather have been on the outside to be honest.

“But if Ricky can get a good trip, he’ll be right there.”

Lincoln Lou ($34, $6), nicely drawn in four, will be handled by the country’s leading junior driver, Sam Thornley.

“I won’t be telling Sam what to do but the horse has big speed if he wants to use it.”

The only glitch in the colt’s form line, however, was when he galloped while blasting to the lead in a Sires’ Stakes heat at Auckland two starts back.

Lincoln Lou’s last start sixth was better than it looks on paper, as he was last turning for home, trapped four deep on the markers, and made good ground, clocking his last mile in 1:58.5, half a second faster than winner Sugar Ray Lincoln.

Frisco Bay ($21, $3.70) is first batter up for Lincoln Farms, starting from a niggly gate six in the second race.

But Green said Frisco Bay wouldn’t be out of it in the rating 47 to 54 event for three-year-olds who missed a start in the $100,000 Flying Stakes.

“He wouldn’t have been a chance in the $100,000 race but these ones are more like him. I’m looking forward to seeing where he sits.”

The $1.50 favourite is the Brendon Hill-trained Renegade, drawn the pole and with an unlucky last-start second to the in-form Harrison John to his credit.