
Double Or Nothing … Lincoln Farms’ great white hope for the Young Guns series.
Lincoln Farms’ young guns strut their stuff - and it’s very good stuff
Mark down the names Double Or Nothing and Perfect Stride in your little black books.
They’re the two standouts of the 15 two-year-olds Pukekohe trainer Ray Green has put through their paces at Lincoln Farms this year.
The pair, both by freshman Woodlands sire Sweet Lou, are so far advanced, Green had to give them a week off last month or risk having them peak too soon for the Young Guns series.
Behind the gate for the first time on Saturday, from outside in, Man Of Action, Perfect Stride and Double Or Nothing.On Saturday at Pukekohe, eight weeks out from the first Young Guns heat at Auckland, the pair, along with stablemate Man Of Action, had their first look at the mobile gate, contesting a 1609 metre learners’ heat at the workouts.
And they came through the experience in great style, comfortably clocking 2:07.9, with their last 800 metres in 59.2 and 400 in a very slick 27.5.
“That’s the quickest we’ve asked them to run and they handled it easily,’’ said Green.
“Neither wear overchecks - they’re both beautifully balanced colts - and are just as good as our Young Guns horses last year.’’
Green describes Double Or Nothing as the stable’s “great white hope.’’
The colt, who cost Lincoln Farms’ boss John Street $100,000 as a yearling, is a half brother to Tim Butt’s crack pacer Left It Ride, winner of 15 of this 27 starts, with his last six on end including the $200,000 Black’s A Fake in Queensland and the $100,000 Four-Year-Old Breeders’ Challenge at Menangle in 1:49.4.
Prepared for sale by neighbouring horseman Logan Hollis, Green says he loved the Sweet Lou colt as soon as he laid eyes on him, long before the sale.
And he fulfilled his No. 1 criteria for a yearling, with great conformation.
“No conformation, no movement, no ability,’’ says Green.
A big, scopy colt, Double Or Nothing has never stopped improving since he began work.
On Saturday, piloted for the first time by top driver David Butcher, Double Or Nothing led his two stablemates from the inside draw and fought strongly in the run home when challenged by Perfect Stride, who was credited with a half head margin at the line.
“I didn’t chase him up, I just sat there’’ said Butcher. “He has a nice feel to him and is nicely gaited.”
Perfect Stride … compact and strong like his brother Chicago Bull.Chicago Bull’s nuggety brother
Perfect Stride, a full brother to West Australian powerhouse Chicago Bull (39 wins and $1.6 million), and just as nuggety, is one of only two horses Lincoln Farms is training for outside owners.
It was quite by chance that Green was given the horse to train by big spending Australian owner Emilio Rosati.
Green told the owner he rated the colt the best in the Christchurch draft and after Rosati bought him for $190,000, he was struggling to decide who to give the horse to train.
But after a dinner out, when Green’s wife Deborah clicked with Rosati’s wife Mary, came the surprise offer which Green could not refuse.
On Saturday, handled by Lincoln Farms’ No. 1 driver Zachary Butcher, Perfect Stride showed he would be a force in the early two-year-old races when he wound up nicely from the trail.
Butcher said while green in the running, the horse was good and would prove very good once the penny dropped completely.
Perfect Stride and Double Or Nothing quickly sorted themselves out from the pack when Green started to increase their workload.
“The natural ones always give you a good feel. Initially there were eight we couldn’t separate but as you progress you find some of them can’t cope and they start doing things wrong.’’
Man Of Action … talented and much more tractable now he has been gelded.Don’t forget Man Of Action
Man Of Action is one who is on an upward curve now.
Even though he galloped turning for home on Saturday, when driver Andre Poutama said he became unbalanced leaning on his boring pole, Green has seen enough to know he will also show up early.
“Since he’s been gelded, he’s been fine. He used to kick a lot when he was a colt, and he’s very strong.
“It would be nice if he was as good as his brother.’’
Man Of Action’s brother Forgotten Highway has an enviable record, having notched five wins and 11 placings from only 22 starts for Mitchell Kerr. He has a guaranteed berth in next month’s New Zealand Trotting Cup.
“Mitchell told me it took him a year to get him gaited but this fellow is a natural.’’
Man Of Action is also a half brother to the stable’s own promising three-year-old Make Way, who on Friday night at Auckland will attempt to quality for the Sires’ Stakes Final.
Green says the next step in the education of the babies will be to take them in to Alexandra Park on a race night to expose them to the lights and extra bustle.
“We don’t want them turning up to race under lights never having seen the place.’’
Green has permission from the club to work the two-year-olds between races.
Behind his most precocious babies are a phalanx of others, the ones Green deemed would benefit from a little more time. And among them are plenty of well bred types who will also eventually make the grade.
More news in Harness
Ray gives reformed Rascal his ‘most likely to succeed’ report from the pole on Friday night
Ray doesn’t pull any punches about Sugar Ray but punters weigh in nonetheless
Partners and pedigree made Johnny Lincoln’s win special - but where was everyone?
Shunt and tangled tail hamper our Johnny - why he can win Friday’s Lincoln Farms Pace
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.14pm
“She went pretty well last week considering they came a fast last half (56.3) and she sat parked from the 800. She’s back to the amateur grade, and should get a good run from the two draw, so hopefully we can get a bit of cash.”
Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
6.38pm
“She didn’t handle the right-handed bends at Auckland last week (galloping at the 300) so we’ll stick to Cambridge from now on. There’s a bit of gate speed in the race so Harry (Harrison Orange) should be able to sit in somewhere. I think he’s a good chance to run top three.”

Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.59pm
“He’s racing very well. He would have run second last week (to American Me) had he not spooked at the winning post. These are tidy horses he’s racing against but he’s holding his own.”
Race 1: Kevin Kline
5.59pm
“He’ll go better back to a mobile start. He did well to finish so close last week after a slow start than having to do all the donkey work when parked for the last lap. Maurice really likes him because he just puts him into cruise control and he keeps going.”
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.58pm
“She’s not as good as the other filly but some lift their game when the money’s up so maybe she can pick up a cheque.”
Race 3: Lincoln’s Spice
6.58pm
“She looks a pretty decent chance of winning. She’s a real little tradesman, does nothing wrong, is easy to handle, is a nice drive, tries hard, is great gaited and has the potential to get stronger.”
Race 5: Tyson
7.51pm
“We found out he raced with a virus last time. The next morning snot was pouring out his nose and that’s why he didn’t finish it off as well as we expected. He only whacked away in the run home. With that gone, he should race better.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
7.51pm
“I think he’ll be competitive and he’s the best of ours in the race. He won well last week and has trained on well. He’s promising. I couldn’t go as far as to say he’s a classic colt yet but we’ll find out soon enough.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.51pm
“He’s doing my head in. He had no excuse for breaking last week. Maurice (McKendry) didn’t blame the wet track. He said he was gliding along, travelling beautifully, when for no apparent reason he put in big steps. I’ll put a hood on him this time to see if it’s a nervous issue.”
Race 8: The Rascal
9.23pm
“All going well, he should win what is a poor maiden field. He’s elevated himself from the transfer list and is going well now. He doesn’t have huge gate speed, so he may not lead but he should get a good trip from one. On paper, he’s our best chance of the night.”