He’s been a ‘deliquent’ but Sugar Ray’s ready for centre stage at Ashburton on Monday

An improving horse, a better draw and a champion driver all give trainer Ray Green good reason to look forward to a top performance from Sugar Ray Lincoln at Ashburton on Monday.

Copy That’s little brother is rated only a $14 chance in the final Sires’ Stakes heat for two-year-olds but Green says the way the colt is doing in Christchurch he could easily outrun those odds.

“He’s really thriving down here and I’m expecting him to go a good race,” Green said. “They might rate a few of those others better but he’s always shown us glimpses of really good form.

“He’s just been a bit of a delinquent, and we’ve been letting him get that out of his system. And unlike some of those flash in the pan jobs, when you think you’ve got something and you haven’t, I’m sure he’ll keep getting better and better.”

Tony Herlihy, centre, who will be the last member of New Zealand’s 3000 club to drive Sugar Ray Lincoln. He is flanked by Maurice McKendry, left, and Ricky May.Green has reached out to the third member of New Zealand’s 3000 club in Tony Herlihy to team with Sugar Ray, after his regular northern pilot Maurice McKendry and last-start driver Ricky May.

And from three on the gate, Green says Herlihy will have more options than in Sugar Ray’s first southern start when, from the second row, May found himself four deep on the pegs and among the tailenders turning for home.

“Ricky said he put a step in on the corner and lost his place and without that he would have run fourth.”

As it was, Sugar Ray Lincoln found a real kick when angled out into the clear, May having to twice work across heels before taking good ground off the placegetters late.

With the fourth fastest last 800 metres of 56.29 and third best closing 400 of 27.47, he was only 5.6 lengths from brilliant winner Marketplace at the line.

Two who beat him home, Got The Choclates ($1.60) and Demon Blue ($4.20) are the favourites on Monday but Green is expecting a big effort from Sugar Ray in his last run before the $200,000 Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Final at Addington on cup day, November 12.

John Morrison brings back The Big Lebowski after his dominant last-start win at Addington. PHOTO: Ajay Berry/Race Images.Lebowski not the worst

Stablemate The Big Lebowski will almost certainly be running in the $40,000 Entain Junior Free-for-all that day, Green accepting of the fact that as 31st in the rankings his chances of making the cup are next to nil.

“These horses in the Flying Stakes on Monday are the best of the best so I’m not expecting him to win. Some of the others would have to have an accident for that to happen. But he won’t be the worst one out there.

“I’m sure he’ll go well though his biggest hurdle is the start. But drawing 11 he shouldn’t be inconvenienced too much as he’ll be one of the last to line up.”

With John Morrison committed to guaranted cup starter Franco Marek, The Big Lebowski will have a new driver in Nathan Williamson.

“As long as they don’t make him stand for too long hopefully he should be fine. If he steps away with them he won’t be far away at the finish.

“But I can’t get my head around why they’re still having standing starts in a race like this, they won’t let go of tradition.”

The Big Lebowski, who is a $51 outsider behind race favourite Merlin ($2.30), earned his shot at the Flying Stakes with a convincing front-running win over 2600 metres at Addington last start.

Sent to the front after 500 metres, he reeled off closing splits of 55.94 and 26.81 to win comfortably, albeit against much weaker opposition.

Frisco Bay flashes late into third at Addington behind Renegade.Frisco’s challenge

Another facing a stiff rise in competition is Frisco Bay, a $41 and $7.50 outsider in the Sires’ Stakes Sophomore Classic, for which Green and his partners Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street made a late payment.

“You only get one shot at these races and it’s for $50,000 so you can’t expect a bunch of bunnies.

“But Frisco’s not a bad horse - we didn’t bring him down here to follow them around - and I think he’ll be competitive.

“Judging by the way he went last time the others will have to be as good as they say to overpower him.”

That’s fighting talk from Green given Frisco Bay competed in a R47 to R54 race last time and meets rivals up to the rating 72 of race favourite Jeremiah on Monday.

But Green says the three-year-old couldn’t have gone any better last start at Addington when he came from five deep on the markers for a brilliant third.

Second last on the turn, he pierced through the field to finish just 1.6 lengths from the highly regarded Renegade, clocking the fastest closing sectionals in the race of 56.05 and 26.84.

“I’m hopeful about his chances on Monday. We’ve been lucky to get Blair (Orange) and the horse is holding his form and has trained on well.”

Green says Frisco Bay could well appreciate the big Canterbury tracks - he’s that clean-gaited you could run him without boots.

“So far so good, we’re in good shape and all three are in the zone.”