General Green’s battle plan will see baby platoon turned out with military precision
By Barry Lichter • 16 January 2019
Never mind the Blue Army, the Green Army comes to town on Friday night when Lincoln Farms will line up six of the nine starters in the opening race for two-year-olds.
We’re used to seeing multiple runners in blue from the Purdon/Rasmussen barn but never before has Lincoln Farms had six starters in one race.
And with Perfect Stride, Double Or Nothing, Man Of Action, Copy That, Sir Tiger and Tommy Lincoln it’s hard to see the stable’s myriad of owners not descending on the Alexandra Park winners’ circle after the race.
Trainer Ray Green … marshalling the troops for a six-strong assault on the opening race at Auckland. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Trainer Ray Green has been busy working out a battle plan and will summon all his troops and artillery for the night ahead, when they will start 10 runners in all.
Drivers have all been sorted - as well as the stable’s own Zachary Butcher (Perfect Stride), Andre Poutama (Sir Tiger) and Andrew Drake (Tommy Lincoln), he’s roped in Tony Herlihy (Copy That), James Stormont (Man Of Action) and David Butcher (Double Or Nothing).
They’ll bring the team in with three transporters, eight in their big Lincoln Farms’ truck and two each in separate floats to be driven by Poutama and Green’s wife Debbie, and will even give an outside passenger, Alta Venetia, a ride for trainer Ian Moody.
Green will bring in their four race carts from Pukekohe and borrow two more from fellow trainers on the night.
Colours aren’t a problem - Green has laid his hands on five sets of the Lincoln green silks, with Perfect Stride to carry the light blue and yellow diamonds of leading Australian owner Emilio Rosati.
There’ll be enough harness in the truck to start a saddlery and plenty of bodies at Alexandra Park before the night kicks off with stable foreman Craig Sharpe joining the team of drivers to help gear up with Debbie Green preparing her own horse Copy That.
“It’ll be easy enough,’’ says Green. “When I worked with Wolfie (Peter Wolfenden) years ago we’d often have runners in nearly every race, sometimes two and three, and we’d handle it all ourselves.
“And you know what the say, the more people you have the more chance of mistakes.’’
Thankfully, Green will have a couple of races afterwards for all the ungearing and cleaning up, with the stable’s two-year-old fillies Hilary Barry and Beaudiene Blinkz not due to run until the fourth race.
* Check out our separate upcoming story for Green’s in-depth comments on how he rates each of his contenders.
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Our runners this week
Saturday night at Albion Park
Captain Nemo.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
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.”
