Louie LeBeau and Sugar Apple primed for bold runs at Auckland on Thursday night
By Barry Lichter • 3 August 2021
Promising two-year-olds Sugar Apple and Louie LeBeau give Lincoln Farms a solid two-pronged attack on the sixth race at Auckland on Thursday night.
Both horses are coming off back-to-back workout wins at Pukekohe, Louie LeBeau set to debut from the second row and Sugar Apple resuming from five on the gate.
Over the mobile mile, Sugar Apple gets the chance to probe for the lead, having shown high gate speed at his last start when leading the Two-Year-Old Emerald field at Cambridge in early June.
But trainer Ray Green says he’ll be happy to see the Sweet Lou colt take a trail.
“The raw ability is there he just needs to get stronger. He can’t cop too much pressure at the moment but if he gets sucked along and pounces on them he’s quite effective.
Sugar Apple in high spirits at Cambridge on Harness Jewels day when he led the Two-Year-Old Emerald.“His half brother American Dealer was the same. He used to need a trip to beat the good horses but he showed in Queensland that he can take it to them now. This little guy theoretically is the same.”
Last Saturday at Pukekohe Sugar Apple came from the trail to outsprint his rivals in a 2050 metre heat, home in 56.8 and 27.5, while he led all the way the previous Friday, sprinting home in 56.3.
Louie LeBeau has also impressed in his two workouts this time in, leading in the first, then coming from last with a sweeping home turn sprint that carried him to a half length win.
Green describes the American Ideal youngster as a nice colt with good gait and manners.
“He’s got stronger and will continue to as he’s still growing. He’s a lovely horse with raw ability and it’s hard to know just yet how far he’ll take us.
“Two on the second row might not be the worst place for him as he can get fired up. This is his first night at the races but he should still go well.”
Lincoln Farms’ third runner, Arden’s Horizon, takes on the older horses in the second race and is hugely disadvantaged drawn the outside of the front line over the mile.
“But he’s a strong colt with a bit of class about him,” says Green. “If he can get a decent run into it, he won’t be far away.
“I certainly don’t see him burning out from eight. He’ll be looking for a trip and if he gets some luck he’s a chance.”
Arden’s Horizon, who never got into the action on Jewels day from a second row draw, has looked sharp in his two recent workout placings, sprinting stylishly when just photo-finished by Be My Rose and Miss Hathaway last Saturday.
Two starts back he looked unlucky not to finish closer than sixth behind Suntan, held up 100 metres out when motoring home from the back.
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Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: The Night Fox
5.44pm
“From a good front line draw Harry can run off the gate and find the front. He’s shown he’s got the speed to get there. And if he can go 2:42 again, or quicker, I thought he’d be a very good winning chance. It’s an easier field than the one he beat last time. He’s trained well this week.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
6.09pm
“She goes down to Cambridge for the first time so it’s a big drop in class. She also goes a lot better left-handed so I thought from the good draw she could run top three.”
Race 3: Lincoln Maree
6.34pm
“She paced a 1:56.7 mile in beating the amateurs last start but it looks like she’ll need a bit of luck from the draw this time. The two inside her like to lead so she could end up three fence or outside them. I’ll leave it up to Harry to get the right trip.”
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.34pm
“He’s a place chance. He likes bowling along but from five it’s hard to say where he’ll end up. He’s very consistent and he paced 2:42.3 last time so I can absolutely see him in the money.”
Race 6: Lincoln Linda
8.04pm
“She was in a very strong R40 to R48 race last time at Auckland against horses like Alecto, All Of Me and Cyclone Rebel, and she clocked 2:41.1, so back to Cambridge where she won her first race, and a much easier R38 to R40 field, she’s got to be a good winning chance. She’s best in front if Fergie can get there.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
4.42pm
“I’m not holding my breath with him. We won’t count that last run, when the leader went ballistic and he couldn’t get into the race, but he’s not well placed here.”
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.09pm
“She’s racing really well and this looks a bit easier than last time when she was trapped in the breeze in a strong field. I can’t see how she won’t be right in the fight.”
Race 7: Missy Lincoln
7.34pm
“I didn’t know what to expect on debut but she was very brave. I’m picking she’ll go well again but she’ll need a bit of luck - drawn the second line we’re at the mercy of others. We’ll poke her out and see. At least she won’t get parked this time.”
Race 10: Lincoln Wave
9.07pm
“We’re racing the best horses now but he’ll definitely go better than last time. Tony (Herlihy) said he felt super across the top but once in the straight he flattened out, which I half expected. I had him scoped afterwards just to make sure he was all right but he was short of a run, that’s all.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
9.07pm
“He went super when third last week and Fergie said just wait ’til he gets over 2700 metres, he’ll be a monster. He’s turned into a proper racehorse. From four there’ll be a bit of urgency early and hopefully he can get a suck along and get some of it.”
