Lincoln La Moose, obscured inner, is a close third last week behind Semba and Lincoln Lou. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Moose is no goose - he’ll just need a Zachary special at Auckland on Friday night
By Barry Lichter • 31 July 2024
Lincoln La Moose looks the best chance of giving Lincoln Farms owners John and Lynne Street the chance to present the winning trophy to themselves and their partners after the opening race at Auckland on Friday night.
Lincoln La Moose and Obadiah Dragon might have niggly front line draws in the Lincoln Farms Pace but both are racing well enough to feature.
Lincoln La Moose, rated seven points higher than Obadiah Dragon, is on an improving curve and was just a head and half a length behind last week’s winner Semba and stablemate Lincoln Lou in a competitive 1700 metre event.
In just his third start in a new preparation, the Art Major three-year-old enjoyed the trail throughout from his pole position and kept fighting to the line for driver Zachary Butcher.
Alexandra Park’s top driver won’t get it so easy from six on Friday night but after only six starts the Cambridge debutant winner is showing he is ready to score his first win at northern headquarters.
“He’s a nice little horse who is racing well,” says trainer Ray Green.
“I expect more of the same and I don’t see why he won’t be a decent winning chance.
“He’s a slightly better horse than Obadiah Dragon but he also raced well the other night even though only eighth.”
Eased back at the start, Obadiah Dragon had only three behind him turning for home and, though forced four wide, made solid ground to be only 4.7 lengths from the winner.
“He has a little bit of gate speed if you want it,” Green said.
The Lincoln Farms’ pair will have serious opposition, however, from the Stonewall Stud trio, J T Boe, Delightful Chic and Secrets Abound, who turned in the run of the race last week, coming from last for a close sixth and pacing the fastest closing sectionals of 56.4 and 27.2.
Green takes a new runner to the races for the first time in the second event but he’s not expecting Kevin Kline to do much on debut.
The Always B Miki gelding is the sole two-year-old in the field and is landed with a second row draw, neither a recipe for success.
“We won’t be looking to put him into the race from the second row. Hopefully he’ll get a suck along and we’ll see where he gets.”
Green said it was “a bit of a stab in the dark” trying to evaluate how the youngster will go.
“It’s a big ask for him first time at the races but I don’t think he’ll disgrace us. We know he’s all right. He’ll develop into a nice horse and, while I’m not expecting anything, it wouldn’t surprise me if he did get some of it.”
Kevin Kline has had five workouts, winning his last two. He worked to the lead and was run down into second in a trial at Pukekohe last Thursday, the closing sectionals in 58.7 and 29.1.
My Copy faces some much higher rated rivals in the sixth race, an R56 pacer against Fernleigh Cash (R70), Triple G (R65) and Artisan (R61).
“But he’ll go his usual honest race,” Green said. “He raced well a few starts ago against this sort of field and he got home really well last start.
“He hasn’t gone a bad race this time in.”
Green said stable battler Commander Lincoln was looking to get lucky in the final race for amateurs.
“It’s not a race I’d want to bet on if I was a punter. Any of them could win.”
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Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Copy N Paste a ‘tradesman’ but look for bold debut run at Cambridge on Thursday night
Ray reveals his theory on why rank outsider Sammy Lincoln can play a hand in the derby
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
6.38pm
“I’m not sure where she’s at. It’s a big drop in class - there’s not much in there - but I don’t think she’ll morph into a star. She was hitting the sulky wheels last time and over-racing but that won’t happen again.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.36pm
“She paced roughly last time but we’ve done a bit of work on her since so she should be happier this time. It depends on the trip she gets (from four) but she’ll go an honest race. She’s no superstar, but she doesn’t miss many cheques.”
Race 8: Copy N Paste
8.45pm
“He’s dour and tradesman-like but he’s getting there. It’s his first time off the place, and the trip will improve him, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him competitive in what is a very weak field. Sometimes you don’t know what the Bettors Delights have got until they front up at the races but he trialled well and beat a couple who are against him here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.53pm
“He actually tried last time. He’s a nice horse but can change his mind quickly. Full blinds woke him up last time so we’ll see if he responds to them again this time.”
Race 3: Omaha Lincoln
5.46pm
“I think he’ll go a good race but it’s his first time at Alexandra Park so I don’t want to talk him up too much. He’s got enough ability to win a race like this, whether he’s ready to do it, we’ll find out. He can get a bit keen at times but I think he’s a chance if he does everything right.”
Race 5: Spiritual Bliss
6.54pm
“It was another great run last time after leading and she’s a good, tough mare who will go another good race. What trip she gets will determine where she finishes. From five, I’m picking she might go back this time but I’ll leave that up to the driver (Harrison Orange).”
Race 6: Sharpe Stride
7.24pm
“He’s a nice trotter, a big strong colt. He can get a bit hot but there’s nothing wrong with how he goes. He’s certainly not good enough to deal with these but he’s there for a run around.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.57pm
“He’s racing in career-best form and they were struggling for runners so I put him in. He gets a starting fee of $1750 so we won’t go home empty-handed. I’m really happy with him, he’s handling right-handed racing better these days. But he’s racing the bear cats so I’m not suggesting for a second he’ll give them a fright.”
Race 10: Colonel Lincoln
9.25pm
“I thought he went super last time. It was a vast improvement on the previous two starts and you’ve got to remember he was out for a long time. He’s coming to it now and improving all the time. I couldn’t label him but I’d be surprised if he’s not in the first three or four. He’s trained on well and gets a front row draw.”
Race 10: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.25pm
“He was given too much to do last time - up to park at the bell - and you can’t drive the ears off them every time. With a more conservative trip he’d be right in it.”
