Frisco Bay, second from left, finishes strongly last start after being held up early in the run home.
Even some minor money would please Ray on what looks to be a tough night at Auckland
By Barry Lichter • 15 May 2024
On a strong premier night card at Auckland, trainer Ray Green will be happy if he can pick up even some place money with Lincoln Farms’ four runners.
Friday night’s opening pair Obadiah Dragon and Frisco Bay are both handicapped by bad draws and, while Leo Lincoln and My Copy are both favoured on the gate, they will need to be at their very best to beat some talented opposition.
Obadiah Dragon comes to Auckland with no form in five previous starts on the course but with an eye-catching last start fourth to his credit.
Devoid of luck in the run home at Cambridge, the three-year-old was well into the stretch before driver Andre Poutama could ease him clear wide on the track.
“He got going only in the last few yards at Cambridge and picked them up real quick,” Green said. “He got home better than the winner (stablemate Leo Lincoln).
“He’s a nicer horse than people think. He’s a much stronger individual than he was and looks to be on the cusp of being in the zone.”
From his awkward draw of seven, however, in a near capacity field, Green says Obadiah Dragon will need plenty of luck.
“But as long as he doesn’t have to do too much work, he’ll get home well.”
Frisco Bay has placed only twice at Auckland in seven starts but both of those thirds held merit, the three-year-old powering home from the rear on the home turn. Held up early in the run home last start, he showed nice pick-up when finally able to pierce through the pack.
“But I can’t label him from four on the second row in a nice field. He’ll need to fluke a really good trip to threaten.”
Green said he wasn’t too worried about a lacklustre workout by the horse last Saturday when he dropped out after trailing.
“I drove him myself on Tuesday and he didn’t feel bad. But we have had a bit of a virus round lately, which can dull them a bit. A couple have come back in with high heart rates after doing nothing.”
Leo Lincoln returns to Auckland after an excellent last start win over Irish Whispers at Cambridge. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.Leo Lincoln and My Copy are the two lowest rated horses in the third race, hence their one and two draws, and Green says they’ll need all favours.
“It’s a handy bunch of horses so you could say I’m hopeful rather than confident.
“Leo has drawn one a few times and hasn’t shown a lot of gate speed but he should get out well enough to land a handy trip.
“I wouldn’t say he can’t win but I wouldn’t label him. I’m hoping he can run in the first three or four.”
Green says My Copy, a four-time winner at Auckland, is in career best form but will need a perfect trip.
“He needs to stay handy without spending too much petrol. He follows speed well but we’ll be relying on luck.”
Luck wasn’t on My Copy’s side last start at Cambridge when the horse he was following died on its run and he was pushed four wide round the home turn.
“That cost him two or three lengths so it was a better run than it looked.”
Charging to the line, My Copy got withing 1.2 lengths of winner The Mighty Sully in fourth place.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Spirited Belle
4.46pm
Delany: “I saw she’d been punted but somebody must know something we don’t as I’ve been working her myself and, while she feels all right and hasn’t put the boot in like at Auckland, I think she’ll need the run. She hasn’t got any high speed but feels like she will stay. She has improved a bit but I’d be surprised if she won.”
Race 1: Lincoln Maree
4.46pm
“It’s always hard from these draws but she’s a tough mare who will make her own luck at some stage. She’s going well enough - her drivers have all been happy - and she’s a little warrior who tries like hell.”
Race 2: Major Copy
5.12pm
“He’s only two and very inexperienced but he feels like a good colt and there’s a lot of improvement in him. He certainly caught a lot of people’s attention last time. I don’t know how good he is yet but he’ll be right there.”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.12pm
“If he can lead without having to do too much work I can’t see anything beating him. I thought he went great last start. He pressed the winner hard ’til the corner then just flattened out in the run home, but he had every reason to do that after all the work he’d done.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.12pm
“She’s been undone by bad draws. If she led easily from three she’d be hard to beat as she’s a good front-runner.”
Race 4: Spirited Peggy
6.12pm
“We’ve had her for only two weeks but she’s seven now and has had her chance to win one. She has a bit of speed but I think she gets pulling so we’ve got the Hidez (compression) hood on her and plugged her ears up.”
Race 6: Copy N Paste
7.10pm
“We won’t see the best of him for another six months. He’s been a slow developing horse but is improving all the time and getting stronger.”
Race 6: Jessie Lincoln
7.10pm
“If I was having a bet on one of them in the race it would be her. She deserves to win one. Her last two have been really good - she just ran into one who was a bit slicker last time in Major Copy.”
Race 6: Lincoln Dealer
7.10pm
“He’s a bit one-dimensional - you’ve got to feed him track and let him run - so the second row draw is a big handicap. To his credit I was surprised he finished so close last time after all the work he did. When he gets a decent draw and crosses them they’ll know they’re at the races. He’s got a big motor and tries hard.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.08pm
“She clawed her way to the front last time but had nothing left at the finish. That won’t happen this time and she should lead easily from one.”
Race 8: Angelic Copy
8.08pm
“She’s had terrible draws but has been going good races. The others last time were just better than her but this is a big drop in class. With the right trip she could get some of it at huge odds.”
Race 9: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.35pm
“He’s not quick away from a stand but he won’t muff it completely. He steps from the front line and Peter Ferguson was quite happy with his last run.”
Race 9: Lincoln Wave
8.35pm
“He bombed the stand the first time but to be fair all those horses were rushing up at him from the back and that panicked him a bit. He’s on 10 metres this time so that won’t happen.”
