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Lincoln River (Andre Poutama) closing strongly for third in his last start at Alexandra Park.

Lincoln River deserves a turn and Ray’s looking for an improved run from Leo too

Lincoln River is in the right form to open the batting on a winning note for Lincoln Farms at Alexandra Park on Thursday night.

The first of five runners which trainer Ray Green lines up, Lincoln River crucially gets a front line alley, only the second time in his last five starts that he has drawn to be able to try for the lead.

Two starts back he led out from four before taking a trail behind Miki Shan but, after dawdling along in front, the leader proved impossible to catch in a pedestrian 2:44.9 for the 2200 metres, Lincoln River coming up half a head short.

Lincoln River was back to a second row draw last time and despite finding the mile a tad short, he closed best to run Mhai Surfer Girl and Gandalf to a nose and one and a half lengths in 1:56.9.

“He’s racing really well,” says Green. “I can’t fault him. I can’t imagine him not going a good race and he should be one of the favourites. He still seems to be in a good place.”

Last Friday, at the Pukekohe workouts, Lincoln River showed he was right up to the mark when pipped only a head by stablemate My Copy, with Frankie Major half a length back third.

“His breeding is starting to come out a bit now,” says Green of the Bettor’s Delight three-year-old who is out of 2104 New Zealand Oaks winner Ideal Belle.

Green says My Copy just needs a trip in the fourth race to get a chunk of the cash - and from gate two he should get it.

“He’s in the zone. He’s looking great and he’s training and trialling really well.”

Green says not to take too much notice of My Copy’s ordinary looking sixth in his last start at Auckland two weeks ago.

“It was a funny race - they walked and sprinted and nothing made any ground.”

Leo Lincoln (Zachary Butcher) runs out of condition on debut.Leo Lincoln (Zachary Butcher) runs out of condition on debut.Green predicts an improved run from Leo Lincoln in the seventh race after he could manage only seventh on debut.

After enjoying the one-out one-back trail, Leo Lincoln found little in the stretch but there was only half a length between third and seventh.

“Was I disappointed with that run? Yes and no. He wasn’t too bad. It was the fastest he’d ever been and he ran out of condition.

“I expect him to be improved this time. He was really good at the workouts last Friday behind a good one of Barry Purdon’s.”

After leading, Leo Lincoln was beaten only half a neck by the trailer, Lazarus two-year-old Jeremiah, in 1:59.3 for mile.

“Obviously it depends on the trip he gets but he’ll beat most of them home and he’s absolutely a winning chance.”

Stablemate Major Achievement, who starts from five in the same race, is a work in progress, says Green.

Lincoln Cove has a lot to learn. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Lincoln Cove has a lot to learn. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.“Fergy thought he went well (after leading) at Cambridge last time where he might have been a run short.

“I don’t know if he had a bug that night - Beaudiene Rocknroll certainly did as the snot started pouring out of him.

“The way he trained yesterday he’s definitely not sick now. He’ll win one quickly.”

The same can’t be said of debutant Lincoln Cove who is the sole second row runner in the last race of the night.

“We’ve thrown him in the deep end a bit here. He’s got a bit to learn - he’s never been off the place since we bought him. He’ll need a race or two to come to it but I think he’ll be all right in time.”

Lincoln Cove, a Downbytheseaside - Everlasting Grace colt, showed his inexperience at the workouts last Friday, tangling when he started to improve from the rear on the home turn.

“He tried to look at the exit gate and lost concentration. But I wouldn’t read too much into that.”

Our runners this week

Saturday night at Albion Park

Argyle.

Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 1: Lincoln La Moose
5.43pm

“Drawn well, he should get a good trip and be the one to beat. He got held up at Cambridge last time and these amateur races are easier to win.”

Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.43pm

“The form line doesn’t show it but he actually went ok last time, they just sprinted and left him flat-footed. He’ll go his usual honest race.”

Race 2: Angelic Copy
6.16pm

“She and Linda train and trial together and are much more forward than the others. She’s a proper little tradesman who can do whatever you want and she tries hard.”

Race 2: Prince Lincoln
6.16pm

“He’s not as forward as the fillies. He’s still learning and can do nothing but improve.”

Race 2: Lincoln Lover
6.16pm

“He’s another who will benefit from the experience but he’s by Bettor’s Delight and they tend to lift their game when the money’s up.”

Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
6.16pm

“She has a bit of speed but is not as tractable as Linda - she doesn’t handle the corners quite as well and might be a little better left-handed. But she’s as good as any of them at the moment and, in the small field, should get her chance.”

Race 2: Lincoln Linda
6.16pm

“Though drawn the outside, she should really be the one to beat, based on her trial. She’s quite a strong filly, who is well gaited and should go forward. Maurice (McKendry) has driven her two or three times and he likes her.”

Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.08pm

“He should be dangerous against what is not a wonderful bunch. He trialled well, a nose behind Lewey Maguire (home in 56.4). All three of mine are nice horses and should be right there.”

Race 4: Tyson
7.08pm

“He was laying in on the corners last time at Cambridge and it was just a sprint home. He needs to be driven a bit more aggressively - he’s gone his best races when he’s been put in the race. Remember he sat parked when third to Arna’s good one (Chase Me) in December. He can tough it.”

Race 4: Colonel Lincoln
7.08pm

“He’s training down well, as good as you could expect. He’s done nothing wrong in three starts back. The outside draw is an inconvenience but, when he slots in, he won’t be far off them.”

Race 7: Kevin Kline
8.38pm

“He got held up last time and the winner got away on him. He should get a nice trip from one. He’ll go another honest race and will be in it for a while.”

Race 7: Debbie Lincoln
8.38pm

“She could be quite a nice filly. The way she’s developing I think she’ll be competitive against the better fillies later in the year. She’s quite versatile and can race tough. She has a lot of potential.”

Race 7: Frisco Bay
8.38pm

“He’d be on a par with Debbie for speed but he can get a bit carried away. Hopefully he can get a nice suck into it. I can’t fault the way they’re training and whichever of the two gets the best trip should win.”

Whales Harness