Debbie Lincoln pleases in searching workout after missing start at Auckland on Friday

Nevele R Fillies finalist Debbie Lincoln might have been cut out of her planned final lead-up at Auckland on Friday night but she was kept up to the mark with a searching workout at Pukekohe today.

Co-trainer Ray Green had hoped to top off Debbie Lincoln’s preparation for the $200,000 cup day fillies’ feature in Friday’s Metro Final but, despite a blistering run in the final heat, missed making the field because the first four home in the four heats were given guaranteed starts.

Green wasn’t happy at first given Debbie Lincoln had turned in the run of the race, going back from a bad draw and clocking easily the fastest closing sectionals of 55 flat and 26.4 to finish just 1.9 lengths from winner Double Parked. Frustratingly, her time of 2:03.8 was a whopping 2.6 seconds faster than the third heat winner Mediator.

Instead, Green lined up Debbie Lincoln today and made sure she had a good blow-out with co-trainer Nathan Delany setting a good tempo in front on Sugar Ray Lincoln (not Kevin Kline as in the commentary).

Debbie Lincoln is flying in a 1:53.5 mile rate win at Auckland. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.When Debbie Lincoln came out of the trail, Delany said she went straight past him - “and looked good doing it.”

Debbie Lincoln ran the 2050 metre mobile in a slick 2:34.5, officially timed over the last 800 in 56.7 and 400 in 27.5, though Delany said he clocked it even faster.

“She trialled really well and in hindsight missing the race might not make a difference,” Green said. “She doesn’t need much more work.”

Debbie Lincoln is due to fly south next Wednesday or Thursday and is assured of a start on cup day, November 11, where she is at the luxurious odds of $31 and $7.

While her opposition is stiff, with the likes of Arafura ($2.80), Winelight ($3.80), Duchess Of Kent ($4.50) and General Jen ($9), Debbie Lincoln has earned her place with performances like that of October 3 when she became the fastest ever three-year-old, of both sexes, over 1700 metres at Alexandra Park with a mile rate of 1:53.5.

Four outsiders

Green harbours no great hopes for Lincoln Farms’ four runners at Auckland on Friday night, however, with three inexperienced two-year-old fillies Lincoln Maree, Lincoln’s Spice and Lincoln Downs, and a badly drawn Tyson.

“I haven’t got high expectations for the fillies. Last time in I’d have said Lincoln’s Spice was the best but I’m not so sure now.

“They’re are all on a par, they’re honest and will go as good as they can but I’m not holding my breath.

Lincoln’s Spice … out of the fleet-footed Spice It Up.“Lincoln’s Spice ($23) tries hard and does everything right. Lincoln Maree ($19) is stronger this time so I don’t think she’ll break again like in her first two starts.”

Lincoln Downs ($51), like her stablemates, was nowhere near ready for the stresses of racenight when produced earlier in the year.

“We lined them up only to get the races off the ground.”

Green said while none of the three had raised his pulse rate in recent workouts they now needed racing and hopefully would improve.

The trio would need dramatic improvement to test Zachary Butcher’s Lazarus filly Time For Change ($1.45) who was only just pipped in a much stronger race last week.

Tyson ($31, $5.50) is at huge odds in the strong Metro Final but, stranded on the inside of the second row, and likely to be trapped deep on the markers, Green can’t see how he’ll get into his favourite open space.