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Lenny’s no rock star but he’s drawn to tune them up at Cambridge on Friday night

From gate four, Vincent two-year-old Lenny Lincoln looks best of Lincoln Farms’ three runners at Cambridge on Friday night.

The improving gelding has finished second in two recent runs on the course, powering home from well back last start behind the well backed favourite The Surfer.

And trainer Ray Green says moving in two spots on the front row this week could be all Lenny needs to notch his first win.

Instead of having to go back and mount his challenge three wide, with only a little luck, driver Andre Poutama should be able to secure a trip handy to the pace.

Lenny Lincoln looks close to taking a trick. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Lenny Lincoln looks close to taking a trick. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.“He seems to like Cambridge and I can’t see why he won’t be hard to beat. On paper he looks the best of our lot.”

The only recent glitch in Lenny Lincoln’s immediate form line was a sixth, when he couldn’t make ground from the back on Duchess Megxit’s 55.5 last half at Auckland.

Green believes his other maiden, Obadiah Dragon, also has a strong chance earlier in the night when he will enjoy starting from two on the front row.

Drawn the second row at Manawatu on Monday, Obadiah Dragon became snookered three back on the markers and Poutama was in tight quarters trying to find room in the run home, finishing a close fourth, just a head and a nose from second.

“I thought it was a good run. Things just didn’t happen for him at the right time and he got out only late.

“From a decent draw he’ll have no excuses this time. I could see him getting a cheque.”

Conquer Clare hasn’t been so fortunate with the draw in the eighth race, landing the outside of the eight-horse field.

But the quality of opposition is well down on her last start at Auckland when 11th, but only 3.9 lengths from winner Kourtney Kardash.

The former southern mare was in heavy traffic turning in, speared through a gap halfway down, then came to the end of her run 50 metres out.

“She wasn’t spectacular but I thought she was OK,” Green said.

“She’s better suited here and is a very honest little mare who should go well but eight is a bad draw in any field and negates any enthusiasm.”

Our runners this week

Friday night at Auckland

Lincoln Lou, Sugar Ray Lincoln, Leo Lincoln.

Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Les Harding

Les Harding

Monday at Globe Derby

Race 6: Beaudiene Rocknroll
6.34pm NZ time

This race will tell us how he measures up against the local horses. We decided to go for this lower graded race, despite having lower prize money, instead of going to the trials one more time. He won the second of two trials on April 21, beating race rival Hezrockinroyalty by four metres. Run over 2230 metres he clocked 57.7 for his last half and 1:59.7 for his last mile. From the pole he’ll start short and be hard to beat.

Dan Costello Race Photography