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.
More news in Harness
Omaha Lincoln long in the odds but he has enough toe to say he won’t be entirely beached
Watch Sammy Lincoln charge home and you’ll want to be on at Cambridge on Thursday night
Lincoln Wave scorches in, still on target for richer races and Sammy’s making progress too
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Omaha Lincoln
4.49pm
“He’s never been to Cambridge, and it’s his first time off the place, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him go well - he’s certainly got enough speed to do the business. It’s guesswork trying to assess him against the others but I think he’ll do everything right so he’s a chance.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
6.51pm
“She is a bit one-dimensional - she’ll take charge of proceedings when the gate leaves. She could get parked but if she got a cheque I’d be happy.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.22pm
“He was taking ground off the winner last week and I don’t think the step up to 2700 will make much difference, he’s race fit now. He’ll do what he can do, he’s no champion, but he’s got the draw, he steps well and he won’t be far away.”
Race 7: Lincoln Wave
7.52pm
“The draw is awkward over the sprint distance at Cambridge but he’s absolutely capable of being right in the fray if he happened to get a good trip - he’s an improver every time he goes to the races. Not many of the others have run 1:54.”
Race 7: Sammy Lincoln
7.52pm
“I thought he did well to finish third last week after being parked out. The draw makes it very hard but he’s got real speed and if he dropped into it late, it wouldn’t surprise me if he got home really well.”
Race 10: Spiritual Bliss
9.24pm
“They’ll know they’ve been to the races if she gets any kind of trip. She was parked the whole way last time in 1:52 and wasn’t far off them. I don’t really want to see her parked again but you’d think Tytate would duck for cover knowing we’d say in front. She’s tough and reliable - she hasn’t gone a bad race since we’ve had her - and you know she’ll put herself in the race.”
Race 10: Another Cullect
9.24pm
“The outside is not a good draw for her but, if they go hard, it will suit her.”
