Charity horse Kevin Kline looks a good actor and Ray’s pretty hopeful for Friday night
By Barry Lichter • 14 November 2024
Kevin Kline ($2.80) doesn’t have to be a champion but Lincoln Farms’ racing manager Ian Middleton has a special reason for wanting him to be a good winner for his new syndicate of owners.
The lightly tried two-year-old resumes from a break at Cambridge on Friday night, the early favourite for the seventh race, the Night Of Champions Pace, after two strong workout wins at Pukekohe.
Originally leased from breeder Pat Laboyrie, Lincoln Farms exercised its right of purchase on the Always B Miki gelding before putting together a partnership to race him.
And foremost among the big team is a group, headed by Jason Deane, which bid $30,000 when Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street donated half a horse to raise money for charity.
The Stroke Foundation benefitted from the generous gesture at the fourth Champions Charity Lunch in Auckland but the first pacer earmarked for the newbies, Anna Lincoln, never made it to the races.
Middleton, determined to give the successful bidders a good experience, diverted their share instead to a youngster showing plenty of promise, Kevin Kline.
A long-time winning combination, Ray Green and Maurice McKendry, who team up with Kevin Kline.And when he resumes fom a three-month break on Friday night he will also have a number of other Lincoln Farms regular supporters cheering for him including Trevor Casey, Priscilla Edmunds, Lance Myocevich, Margaret Rabbitt, the Red & Blue Syndicate, Ray Menzies and Dave and Daphne Jones.
“I think he’s a worthy horse to be in,” said trainer Ray Green. “And from what I’ve seen, I’d say he’s the one to beat on Friday. He certainly deserves to be favourite as the others have been around for a while.”
Green says Kevin Kline is a completely different conveyance from the one who over-raced and galloped when sixth in his only two starts in August.
“He’s a big, gangly horse who has time written all over him but he’s getting stronger all the time and he’s doing everything right now.
“The raw ability is there - he’s got a bit of speed - and he’s been running good fractions at the trials and getting home well.”
In his October 31 workout over 2050 metres at Pukekohe, Kevin Kline led all the way for Maurice McKendry to beat race rival Makorori, sprinting home in 57.7 and 28.
And on November 7, the combination whipped round to lead after 700 metres and was untested to beat Tyron’s Connoisseur by one and three-quarter lengths, clocking 57.6 and 27.
“I think he’s a pretty tidy horse,” Green said.
Kevin Kline is the eighth and last foal out of the six-race winner Matai Mies, her best being Emily Blunt and Happy Place who both won eight races.
More news in Harness
Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
A picture of Bliss but poor Harry’s arms were nearly pulled out of their sockets
Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
