Draw gives Line Up the edge in Lincoln Farms’ four-pronged assault on the Sires Stakes
By Barry Lichter • 23 October 2019
Trainer Ray Green, like the TAB bookies, believes Line Up’s perfect draw makes him the one to beat in Friday night’s Sires’ Stakes heat at Alexandra Park.
In an early market for the second and final Sires’ Stakes heat in the north, Line Up has opened the $2.60 favourite, with Mighty Looee second favourite at $3 ahead of Green’s Copy That and Barry Purdon’s Bad To The Bone on $5.
Green’s two other runners, Double Or Nothing and Tommy Lincoln, are not fancied at $26.
Green has decided to start all four of his entries, happy that Tommy Lincoln, while not 100% fit yet, deserves his shot and Copy That has improved this week after a disappointing Saturday workout.
Ray Green gives Copy That a hose down after training.“Copy That is fine. I see no reason not to start him. His fast work yesterday was very good, he ran a mile in 2:04 and he and Line Up finished it off nicely together.
“I know Zac was bemoaning Copy That’s performance at the workouts but he seems quite a bit better now and he needs the race to get fit for Christchurch.”
Copy That and Line Up have already qualified for the $170,000 Sires’ Stakes Final on cup day at Addington, November 12.
With Zachary Butcher opting to drive Bad To The Bone, Green has reached for master reinsman Tony Herlihy for Copy That, who will have to overcome the outside gate of eight, no easy task over only a mile.
And that’s primarily why Green favours Line Up, who has shown he has the gate speed to make the most of his barrier two for David Butcher.
“I don’t think there’s anything between the two but I’m very happy with Line Up, he’s looking really good, and coming to his peak at the right time.”
Line Up was well below his best when second at his last start to Copy That, only just making the start line for the first Sires’ Stakes heat at Cambridge after a foot abscess threatened to derail him.
He will be very potent on Friday, leading over a mile.
Double Or Nothing … has scored back-to-back wins and deserves his chance.Green doesn’t believe Double Or Nothing will be disgraced even though he’s stepping up in company.
“Ability wise he’s there, he just hasn’t been strong enough, but you can’t fault what he’s done in his last two starts. He’s worthy of being in the field and is an improver.
“Tommy Lincoln should need the run but he’s pretty rugged, better than I thought he was, and another worthy of taking his place.
“Nothing really stands out and it’s going to be a very tactical race.”
Pair will need lots of luck
Under the preferential barrier draw, Green’s seventh race runners The Empress and Bettor My Dreamz were always going to draw badly but from three and four on the second row they will need plenty of luck to feature over a mile.
“I’m very happy with The Empress, she’s really in the zone at the moment, and from a fitness perspective she’s in better shape than Bettor My Dreamz.
“If she can get any sort of crack at them she’ll be right there.
“The probabilities are against Bettor My Dreamz from out there but it’s horse racing and anything can happen.
“If they get lucky they can certainly get some money.”
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 6: Captain Nemo
9.40pm NZ time
“I rate him a good top three chance. I’m really happy with the horse. It’s a decent drop in grade for him and I think maybe we roll the dice, go forward, and take our chances. As long as he doesn’t have to burn stupidly off the gate, if he can find the top, they’ll know he’s in the race.”
