
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
Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Nate having a last spin round on his wee mate Eric - and he’s in with a very good chance
Resilient Lincoln Farms’ three-year-olds Tyson and Kevin Kline doing breeder proud
Nate: Write off Kevin Kline again at your peril - he’s not that fast but he just keeps going
Our runners this week
Thursday twilight at Manawatu
Lincoln Maree, LIncoln Downs, Spiritual Bliss.
Friday night at Auckland
Tyson, Sugar Ray Lincoln, Prince Lincoln, Johnny Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Lincoln Lover.
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 1: Lincoln Maree
4.17pm
“She’s a real little trier who just lacks a yard of speed and that’s why she’s down there. She’s training as good as she can.”
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
5.07pm
“She’s coming on well, drives well and does everything correctly, she just needs to get a trip from the second row. She had to come five wide round the home turn at Cambridge behind Amercan Falcon. It wouldn’t surprise me if she could sneak into the money.”
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
5.32pm
“We’ve had her only two weeks so we’re very much in the dark, not having seen her in race mode. She’s a good looking mare who trains quite nicely but the two wins from 39 starts in the South Island doesn’t read well and she’s got a difficult second row draw.”

