
Ray Green should be in the winner’s circle again at Auckland on Thursday night.
Hard to pick between Lincoln Farms’ trio in the last race at Auckland on Thursday night
Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green looks to have a stranglehold on the last race at Auckland on Thursday night - but don’t ask him to tip you the winner.
With Obadiah Dragon, Leo Lincoln and My Copy all racing well, it would be a game punter to say Green can’t win the seven-horse race, but sorting out the best chance is another story.
“I’m confident they’ll all race well but I can’t label one of them. It’s difficult to predict what will happen in these small fields and quite often whoever’s in front will walk them to the corner.”
Both Obadiah Dragon and My Copy were very unlucky last week at Cambridge, held up for significant portions of the home straight.
“Obadiah Dragon’s been a good thing beaten in two of his last four starts and he looks a serious threat from one.
“He would have won last time with a clear run, he was ducking and diving all over the place up the straight.
“He just needs a decent trip and he should get it from the pole this week. I don’t think the others are a lot better than him.”
Obadiah Dragon, a nose and a head behind Spirit Of Waiheke and Cyren Shard in a rating 40 to 47 race last week, steps up slghtly in grade this week.
My Copy powers home down the outside at Cambridge last week after being clear late. Leo Lincoln is a close fourth after being attacked mercilessly in the lead.Green had virtually the same summary with his wife Debbie’s horse My Copy who did not get clear until too late last week and finished best of the rest behind Sharkie’s Girl who clocked a hot 2:39.5.
Though he beat only one home, My Copy was just 2.3 lengths from the winner.
“If he’d got a clear run earlier he’d have been all over them.
“He’s been unlucky lately, is in career best form, and is a winning chance as long as they don’t go too slowly.”
As a six-race winner, My Copy looks to get into the field on good terms.
Leo Lincoln, fourth in the same event at Cambridge, paced a huge race, Green said, considering he was attacked mercilessly by a badly over-racing Claude once he made the lead 1400 metres out.
“I thought he went great to hang on like he did. They only got to him at the 100 and he was less than two lengths from the winner.
“He’s a a good little horse and I’ve got Zac (Butcher) on him this week.”
Commander Lincoln lines up in the opening race for amateurs, his three draw giving him a place chance.
Limited in ability, Commander Lincoln had no chance last week when trapped three wide for the last 1450 metres.
“He’s a chance in a race like this - he’ll go an honest race.”
Punters can have a night off following the frustrating Lincoln Cove, who galloped again when leading on the home turn last week.
“He’s as lame as a cat today. The vet’s coming to look at him but we’ll end up scratching him.”
More news in Harness
Leo takes the lion’s share to cap terrific Manawatu season - and Ray gets a piece too
Nate looking for more Fergy magic to cap successful two months at Manawatu
Cloud over Angelic Copy again - bug threatens to force her out on Friday night at Auckland
Phone home - ET trotter Whats Up The Hill blasts off with narrow Escape at Auckland
Our runners this week
Friday night at Auckland
What’s Up The Hill.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Nathan’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 3: Onyx Shard
5.09pm
“She’s working really well and, from the good draw, hopefully she can run a drum. The field’s not that much harder than the one she beat last time at Manawatu (when parked for the last lap).”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
5.09pm
“We’re very happy with him - he’s come back a better horse. He went well at Auckland last start and is working well. We’ll be looking to go forward from the gate and hopefully get a gun run through behind Onyx Shard. On ability, he’s the better chance of the two.”
Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.39pm
“He stepped like a bullet in his first go from a stand here in March. I thought he’d do the same on the second day but he galloped. We’ve got an overcheck on and hopple shorteners on Tuesday so he should make a good beginning. If he can step and lead, then maybe take a trail, he should be hard to beat. He likes it down there where the track is quite soft.”

Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 3: Onyx Shard
6.04pm
“I thought I had Kevin Kline covered on Tuesday when we got to the straight because she was really travelling but he kicked away on us. It would be nice if she can get out of the gate as well again - she has good gate speed - and, if she does, she can get some of it again.”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
6.04pm
“He was too good for them on Tuesday, thanks to a great Fergy drive, and he’s in the same field again this time. The extra distance and wide draw shouldn’t make much of a difference and he’s our best of the night.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.02pm
“He’ll be hard to beat again if he steps like he did on Tuesday. The 10 metre handicap shouldn’t stop him. I think he’s even better if he follows something and the extra 500 metres isn’t a worry.”