Ray cautions punters with no lead this time for Jekyll and Hyde colt Prince Lincoln

Prince Lincoln has the best credentials in Friday night’s Second Metro Pacers’ Heat at Alexandra Park but co-trainer Ray Green is reserved about his chances.

A runaway all-the-way winner of his last start at Cambridge, Prince Lincoln ($4.60) is the most tightly assessed runner but as a consequence draws the worst, four on the second row.

“It’s always difficult for any horse off a draw like that, let alone one like him, as we know he doesn’t race as well from off the pace,” Green said.

“We just have to hope his big demolition job woke him up a lot.”

That demolition was the second time in the last month that Prince Lincoln has turned it on in front over 1700 metres, clocking a dizzying 1:53.8 mile rate.

At Auckland, on May 8, he did the same, recording a 1:53.6 mile rate and embarrassing his R40 to R42 rivals by six and a half lengths.

On Friday night he scrapes into a R35 to R42 field with easily the fastest mile time, favourite Incentivise ($3.80) closest with a 1:55.7 clocking at Oamaru last September.

But driver Matthew White would be a magician if he could land anywhere near the front, and is most likely to need a truck load of luck to secure a passage from where the three-year-old could threaten.

Green is just hoping Prince Lincoln doesn’t pull too hard over the longer 2200 metres and can show the same finishing burst that carried him into seventh three starts back at Auckland.

Despite not wearing blinds, Prince Lincoln was excellent on the clock coming from the rear on the inner turning in, having to angle wide, and not being in the clear until the last 150 metres, his closing splits of 57.8 and 28.4 equal fastest with winner Secret Beach.

“His form eclipses anything else in the race but whether or not he’ll bring his best is anyone’s guess,” Green said.

Long odds

The remaining three runners for Lincoln Farms are at long odds, with Spirit Of God ($31, $4.20) opening the batting in the second race.

The field is mostly devoid of form, but the mare draws seven on the outside of the gate, making her task more difficult.

“She’s got a bit of lick but I’ll leave it up to the driver (White) to decide whether to leave the gate.”

Two starts back at Cambridge Harrison Orange lit the fuse on the mare from the same alley but couldn’t quite make the lead, lucky to eventally secure the trail and run fourth.

“She’s no superstar but there are none in there,” Green said.

Untried debutants Dino ($1.80) and Go Jimmy Cassidy ($4 in to $3.60) are the two early favourites on their good trial form. Dino beat last week’s super impressive winner Lucky Luka in his qualifying trial and Go Jimmy Cassidy, part-owned by former top jockey Jim Cassidy, ran second to Lincoln Wave in his January qualy and has won two recent workouts.

Angelic Copy ($91, $11) and Lincoln Maree ($27, $5) look to be up against it in the First Metro Pacers’ Heat but can’t be condemned on their most recent form, Green said.

The pair did not feature last week at Cambridge behind pacemaker Ride The Waves but Green said, with a slow 2:02.2 mile rate, those behind the filly had no chance.

“It was a non-event, the silliest race I’ve seen for a long time, with a middle half in 66.6. It shouldn’t be legal. In the US they’d fine you for going that slow.”

Lincoln Maree had been good in both her previous starts, showing toughness, and Angelic Copy had had no chance recently, caught back in crawl-and-sprint home races.

“She was out for a long time but has had three runs back now and should be close to being ready to rock.”