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.