It’s an even line-up but stick with fleet-footed Debbie Lincoln at Auckland on Friday night
By Barry Lichter • 22 October 2025
Debbie Lincoln lost no caste with co-trainer Ray Green when dive-bombed late last week and again looks the stable’s best chance at Auckland on Friday.
Driver Maurice McKendry told Green he was happy with the filly’s runner-up placing and that she paced strongly through the line after doing all the pacemaking.
“Captain Sampson just surprised her that last bit but he’s a talented sort and she wasn’t slowing up,” Green said.
Officially clocked over her last 800 metres in 55.7 and 400 in 26.8, Debbie Lincoln ran the 1609 metres in 1:54.4.
That followed her run two weeks earlier when she ran an Alexandra Park record for a three-year-old, clocking a mile rate of 1:53.5 for 1700 metres.
Ray Green … “I think she’s better coming from off the pace.”“From seven on the gate this week she’ll have to go back but I think she’s better coming from off the pace.
“She’s a good chance if she can get sucked into it at the right time.”
In an even field, Debbie Lincoln ($4.50, $1.65) opened second favourite behind the better drawn Turn O The Tide ($3.60). Next in the market are Double Parked ($4.80) and Blazing Louie ($5).
Stablemate Tyson ($6.50, $2) might lack the speed of Debbie and some of his other rivals but he just needs a little luck to be right in it again, says Green.
“We were looking to sit in with him last week but it didn’t work out. He still ran on pretty well as he always does.”
Parked from as far as 1550 metres out, Tyson rallied bravely to be just 1.4 lengths behind eventual winner Tytate.
Kevin Kline ($5, $1.60) rounds out the Lincoln Farms’ team for Friday night, facing higher rated rivals in the opening race but with the advantage of the inside draw.
From there, Green hopes the horse will get more luck than last week when, after being three deep on the markers, he was held up in the run home and finished the race in tight quarters, just 2.7 lengths behind Captain Sampson.
“He got home really well, hard on their backs and, with the right trip, he’ll be dangerous.
“But the race looks suited to a horse like Hooray Henry who, in a small field, can sit back and outsprint them.
“But all three of ours are each-way chances. They’ve all trained on well.”
More news in Harness
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
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: The Night Fox
4.59pm
“He’s racing well and I can’t fault him. The opposition is stronger this time but I can’t see why he won’t go another good race.”
Race 3: Spiritual Bliss
5.59pm
“She’s a good, tough mare. It depends on the trip you get in these sort of races but she loves it when they run hard and she can get some of the money.”
Race 3: Ultimate Cullect
5.59pm
“We haven’t had a lot of time to assess her yet. From the one drive I’ve had on her she doesn’t strike me as a sit-sprinter. But if they go hard, hopefully she’ll get home well.”
Race 5: Lincoln Maree
6.57pm
“It’s a “brutal” race but she’s drawn to get a suck along and hopefully she can last well enough for a cheque.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
7.29pm
“There are a few in there that are better than him but he has a handicap advantage and, if he gets a good trip, he could get some of it. He steps well and his driver reckoned he would have won last week if he’d got the run at the right time.”
Race 10: Sammy Lincoln
9.23pm
“I can’t imagine him being beaten - they’d have to knock him over. He’s very fast and in case he has to move quickly early we’ll use the shorteners. I can’t see any problem with him going left-handed - he’s probably better that way.”
Race 11: Rivergirl Bella
9.54pm
“She’s honest and will try hard.”
