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Captain Nemo, outer, and Apieceoflou dispute the finish at Cambridge in July. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.

Lincoln Farms’ pair should have no excuses in poor Sires’ Stakes heat at Auckland on Friday

In only a six-horse field, Captain Nemo and Apieceoflou will get their chance to find the winners’ circle at Auckland on Friday night.

The fourth Sires’ Stakes heat is easily the weakest so far run with dual recent winner Luke John the clear favourite.

But trainer Ray Green says the Lincoln Farms’ stablemates are both realistic chances “if things go their way.”

Things have gone anything but the way of Apieceoflou from the first night he began his career - if a succession of terrible draws wasn’t enough he was also the victim of locked wheels three starts back when looking likely.

On Friday, from two in a small field “that’s little more than a jumped up maiden”, Green says he’ll surely get a crack at them.

“Apieceoflou has just been incredibly unlucky - he was knocked over at the start last time - but if things go his way we’ll see a better animal.”

After galloping at the start, Apieceoflou was doing his best work late at Cambridge, when fifth behind B D Joe and American Dealer in a 1:54.6 mile rate but so too was Captain Nemo who got one place and two lengths closer.

And Friday night’s opposition is easily the weakest Captain Nemo has faced this season, when he has regularly turned in very creditable efforts against the best three-year-olds.

“With the right trip Captain Nemo will be right there,” says Green.

Luke John will, however, command favouritism, after his last start win in the Harness Million Consolation. While he had only three rivals that night, Luke John rattled off a 2:39.8 2200 metres to just pip General Montana, a rival again on Friday.

Front running lover Tommy Lincoln will be at healthy odds in the fourth race after being consigned to wide on the second row.

Tommy Lincoln’s best efforts have been from the front but he ran out of juice last week when run down to sixth by Kango and co.

“In a way drawing the second row could be good for him,” says Green.

“He’s in a grade now where he can’t get away with being driven like a toe rag all the time and from the second row he’s obligated to have a much more conservative trip.

“He’ll need a bit of luck but, if he’s not put in the race too soon, he shouldn’t be too far away.”

Tommy Lincoln is the highest rated in the field at 69 but it is chock full of in-form pacers who have better draws.

Green has scratched Revitalise from the seventh race while he recovers from a foot abscess.

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Tuesday at Cambridge

Race 7: Im Not The Maid
7.39pm

“It’s her first run for five months so she’ll need the run and she’s not well off in the ratings on R52 having won only two $8000 races at Cambridge. She’ll need to lose some rating points.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Cambridge

Race 1: What’s Up The Hill
5.20pm

“I’m just living in hope that he trots all the way.”

Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
6.43pm

“He’s in unchartered territory. He’s used to only two or three horses on the track so the big field will be a test for him. He seems to have a bit of lick, though, another stride at the workouts the other day and he’d have beaten Debrief, and Stonewall paid $270,000 for him. But there are a lot of firsts for him so we’re not holding our breath.”

Race 7: Frisco Bay
8.02pm

Update: Scratched

“This is certainly a big test for him but he’s got the right draw again and if he can get another two hole trip he won’t be the worst out there.”

Whales Harness