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
By Barry Lichter • 5 June 2024
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
Rivergirl Bella finally delivers - and Phil kicks himself for not being there or having a punt
This is it, Sammy, the draw’s a bit of a pain but you can eat these non-winners for breakfast
Prince Lincoln finally shows what he’s made of - and, wow, was that a blazing demolition!
Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.14pm
“She tries hard and is getting stronger. She just needs a trip to be right there.”
Race 3: Copy N Paste
6.16pm
“Maurice said he got a bit tired on debut but I didn’t expect a lot. Four months ago you’d have wondered if he’d ever qualify. He’ll improve on that - he’s improving all the time - but from seven he’ll have to go back and come into it late.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.14pm
Update: Scratched
“She’s up in grade but is a chance again if she can get a good run up the front of the field. It was a good effort last time to break 2:43.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.49pm
“She’s trained on OK and, while no champion, has to be a chance down in grade against the amateur horses.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.57pm
“I can’t see her beating Sammy Lincoln but with a good draw at last you’ll see a better performance. She’s capable of finishing in the first three.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.57pm
“She bolted in at the workouts, leading out from a wide gate and getting home in 27.9. She’s a great driving little mare and has good manners. I could see her winning one very soon.”
Race 4: Sammy Lincoln
6.57pm
“I know we’ve said it before but he has been unlucky a few times and, all things being fair and square, it’s hard to see him beaten. The draw is awkward but everything points to him winning. There are no derby horses in there and he went a great race in the Northern Derby last start.”
Race 4: Marylynes Boy
6.57pm
“He’s a tidy little horse. I can’t see him winning from the (second row) draw but he’s like Spirit Of God, he’s not far away from winning one.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.25pm
“He’s been a late developer. You can see it in his growth, his withers have finally popped up, and he’ll get better as time goes on. He’s no champion but he should be a handy horse through winter. He’s capable of stepping away fairly well.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.25pm
“It’s a toss-up between the two of them. Sugar Ray is a bit stronger perhaps but Leo is very good from a stand. You can forget that last run in the Messenger - he was only in there to help get the race off the ground.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.25pm
“He finally showed us what he’s got last week. Inside second row draws can be awkward - you’re at the mercy of the others - but he could end up with a good trail behind the leader.”
