Line Up has made a dramatic improvement in the last few days after an abscess burst out of his foot.
Intriguing clash of Lincoln Farms’ colts will go ahead as Ray gives Line Up the all clear
By Barry Lichter • 2 October 2019
Line Up will line up at Cambridge tomorrow night after showing further improvement this morning.
Trainer Ray Green only jogged the smart colt but didn’t detect any lingering soreness from the foot abscess which earlier in the week threatened to keep him out of the first Sires’ Stakes heat.
“He was better again today and by tomorrow he should be really good. I’m not too worried at all now.
“Sometimes these things can linger for quite some time but in this instance we’ve been lucky.
“It’s impossible to say how far down on his best he’ll be but obviously he could be going into the race better.”
Green wouldn’t hazard a guess on whether Line Up would beat stablemate Copy That and said stable driver Zachary Butcher’s declaration for Copy That simply reflected the fact he didn’t want to potentially miss out on a drive as the deadline was yesterday.
Butcher’s dad David will pilot Line Up, who has been favoured in the draws and starts from gate three, with Copy That in six.
“There’s not much between the two of them and it will come down to who gets the better run.”
While Green rates Mighty Looee a chance, his pair will now be at short quotes with the TAB bookies.
The Line Up v Copy That clash will see heavyweight Australian owners Emilio Rosati and Merv Butterworth lock horns, Butterworth having bought Copy That from Green’s wife Debbie late last season.
Both colts are blessed with high speed and while Line Up has had much better manners so far, Copy That showed he was much more comfortable going left-handed when scoring a super trial win at Cambridge a couple of weeks ago.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Johnny Lincoln
5.39pm
“He didn’t do anything at Auckland last start but seems to go better left-handed and placed at Cambridge in his only start there.”
Race 2: Lincoln Maree
5.39pm
“Her driver (Harrison Orange) said she would have won last start had that horse (Mr Miki) not stopped in her face. The winner was gone by the time she saw daylight. She will just need some luck from the second row draw.”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.39pm
“He should have won last start at Auckland but we’ve taken the blinds off on Friday night and, in a weaker line-up, going left-handed, we’ll see how he goes.”
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.37pm
“I think the race will be won or lost soon after the start. It’s out of our control, we just have to hope she gets a run through and then I’m sure she’ll be hard to beat.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.40pm
“She’s got a little bit of lick but only has a short sprint, so timing is everything.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.40pm
“Being put in the race from the start last time obviously took a bit of the sting out of him. But at least there’s no chance that will happen this time from the second row. In his previous races he’d ducked for cover and got sucked along but he needs a decent tempo, he’s no sit-sprinter.”
