Hard to assess rivals but little Missy Lincoln’s sharp for resumption at Auckland on Friday

Missy Lincoln might not have grown much during her spell but she’s lost none of her ability, prompting co-trainer Ray Green to predict she will be very competitive at Auckland on Friday night.

The Bettor’s Delight two-year-old hasn’t been seen since she ran fourth in the Delightful Lady Young Guns Classic on March 20 and Green hasn’t trialled her leading up to her resumption.

“I didn’t see the need to trial her - they’re pretty tame affairs - but she’s training really well and seems pretty sharp.”

Green said it was difficult to make an assessment of how Missy Lincoln ($8.50, $2.25) compared with her rivals who have little exposed race form.

Best of the triallists look to be the Nathan Purdon pair of Three Bags Full and Dontgetmestarted while Lathered In Love has drawn to repeat her all-the-way workout win of July 28.

“But Missy is very capable and I’m sure she’ll go a good race. She’s done well in two starts against the best and there are none of the best in this field.”

Missy Lincoln made an instant impression on debut in March, sitting parked for most of the way when third in a Young Guns heat behind Eternal Perfection.

And Green says none of her rivals have the record to match her fourth in the Final when only 3.7 lengths behind winner Daisy Bay.

“She still small, but she’s a pretty nice filly.”

Missy Lincoln’s family is chock full of speedy winners - her sister Need You Now was a multiple Group I winner, Billy Badger won eight races here and another 24 in the States, Stars Tonight won eight times and only unsoundness stopped Hey Bartender from winning more than five.

Green says it’s impossible to predict what Sammy Lincoln ($6, $1.90) might do in the opening race. “He’s been disappointing. He had no excuses last time - Andre (Poutama) said he just wouldn’t go - and there’s nothing obvious worrying him.”

Starting favourite at Cambridge, Sammy Lincoln again left the mobile slowly and got back, forced to make his run four and five wide round the home turn and only holding his ground to the line.

To be fair, the leaders did run closing sectionals of 57.3 and 28.6, on a slick 1:55.5 mile rate, making his job impossible from so far back. But Green isn’t holding his breath this time, saying only that if the real Sammy turned up he’d be dangerous.

Colonel Lincoln ($23, $5.50), the drive of Max Hill in a NZ junior drivers’ championship heat, looks to have the job ahead of him again from four on the second row.

“He’s just getting no luck,” Green said. “It was a non-event last time at Cambrdge - he was checked into a gallop a round from home - and I just want to see him get round.”

Leo Lincoln ($35, $3.80) gets a tough assignment in the seventh race, the lowest graded at R51 in a mobile event with a 37-point ratings spread.

“He barely holds his own out of the gate and against the likes of Rubira (R88) and Jeremiah (R80) he’s just a runner’s chance.”