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Frisco Bay scores an impressive fresh-up win at Auckland on August 30. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.

In-form Frisco Bay looks a ratings special at Alexandra Park on Friday night

Fresh from a big run in the Northern Metro Final, Frisco Bay ($3.50) looks a ratings special at Auckland on Friday night.

Trainer Ray Green’s three-year-old turned in one of the runs of the race last week in the $35,000 final, which was packed with talented pacers up to R60.

This week he meets only five rivals, only one of them with a rating higher than the 40s - Louezyana (R51) whom he beat by more than eight lengths last Friday.

When driver Andre Poutama pulled Frisco Bay out of the running line 600 metres from home to get in front of the three-wide train, the horse sped forward with plenty of venom.

Three wide disputing the lead round the home turn he fought on bravely, weakening only in the last 100 metres to run a 3.4 length fifth, only a nose from fourth, behind progressive pacers Always B Elite, Hawkeye Pierce, Jeremiah and Horray Henry.

Frisco Bay, who clocked 2:42.1 for the 2200 metres, was credited with the equal fastest third quarter of 28.4, the third fastest last half of 55.5 and 400 in 27.1.

On Friday night, with one scratching already inside him, he will start from three on the gate, with his main danger McKendrick ($2.70) immediately inside him.

The Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained four-year-old ran third last week behind Semba and Obadiah Dragon over 1700 metres, run in a slick mile rate of 1:54.6, and recorded the fastest closing sectionals of 54.8 and 27.4.

Green, not surprisingly, says Frisco Bay looks the one to beat on Friday with Zachary Butcher at the helm but he warns not to under-estimate stablemate Obadiah Dragon ($6.50) and regular driver Poutama.

“He’s going good races and I don’t think there’s a lot between them.”

Lincoln Farms’ other two runners on Friday clash in the opening race with Tyson standing over Lincoln La Moose.

Tyson downs Turn O The Tide two starts back at Auckland. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.Tyson downs Turn O The Tide two starts back at Auckland. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.Seedy toe

Green was forced to ease up on Tyson ($15) after his excellent last start fourth on August 9 behind Runkle Crunch, Hearts N Aces and Lincoln Lou after being parked throughout.

“He had a bit of a foot issue and we had to stop and cut a bit of his seedy toe away.

“He missed a bit of work but he trialled well last week and I expect him to go well.”

Driven quietly early in his Pukekohe workout, Tyson same from last on the final turn, sweeping round four and five wide and powering home for second behind last-start winner Classic Elegance, the 2050 metres run in a good 2:02.7 mile rate.

Green warns not to write off Lincoln La Moose ($34) for his terrible last start run when he was back on dispatch, broke 1450 metres out, over-raced down the back and broke again 400 from home.

“We couldn’t find anything specific that explained the run. He’s a nice enough horse but he’s still very green.

“I wouldn’t condemn him on that last run and he’s trained on well.”

Lincoln La Moose starts from the pole position on Friday with Poutama at the reins.

The pair have two promising types to contend with on Friday night, however, Purdon Racing’s winning debutant Without You ($2.30) and fresh-up winner Always Be Mattie, backed in from $3 to $2.20 immediately on the opening of the fixed odds.

Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 1: Angelic Copy
4.53pm

“She’s done everything right and trialled really nicely. I think she’s forward enough to give some cheek. She’s only small. You like to think when you get a good two-year-old like her that they’ll get stronger and transition into a nice three-year-old but she hasn’t grown an inch. But she tries hard and enjoys being out there.”

Race 2: Major Copy
5.28pm

“I’m looking forward to seeing him. You never really know ’til you get to the races but he’s trialled well enough to start and I wouldn’t be surprised if he went a good race, despite the draw. He’s a nice sensible colt who’s done nothing wrong and he could develop into a really nice three-year-old.”

Race 6: Lincoln Wave
7.22pm

“He was starting to get into the habit of switching off so we trained him in blinds this week and he went pretty well. He was good from a standing start at the trials with shorteners in and Maurice was actually quite bullish about his standing start manners and thinks that, in time, he’ll end up being a quick beginner. If he steps well, and can land in the first one or two, he’ll definitely be hard to get round.”

Race 6: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.22pm

“He’s not spectacular from a stand but he will get away, albeit sometimes a bit slowly. Lincoln Wave has more speed than him but if it comes down to a slugfest he’d be too strong as he’s rock hard fit.”

Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.23pm

“The blinds go back on this week and if he steps and leads like he did three starts ago that would make him the one to beat. He showed with that win that he’s above average and will be a serious chance.”

Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.23pm

“You could argue she’s a Cambridge horse but sometimes when you throw them in with the bear cats they lift their game and I thought she was really good here last week. Tony (Cameron) said she’d have finished a bit closer too if he hadn’t had to take hold of her close to home (when he ran out of room and hit a marker pole).”

Race 8: Sammy Lincoln
8.23pm

“We’ve got blinds on him this week. Harry said he lost concentration a couple of times last week, including at the top of the straight, and thought he’d be a bit more on to it with blinds on. I still thought his was the run of the race last time - none of the others could have done what he did - and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him score.”

Dan Costello Race Photography