Ray doesn’t pull any punches about Sugar Ray but punters weigh in nonetheless

Co-trainer Ray Green is blunt when it comes to describing Copy That’s little brother Sugar Ray Lincoln.

“He always promised plenty and given nothing.”

But the way Sugar Ray is training, on the eve of resuming racing, Green is hoping he’ll be able to revisit that comment pretty soon.

“He feels super in his work,” Green said. “I’m really pleased with him. I know he hasn’t lived up to his early promise but the way he’s training he might now be ready to realise it.”

Punters have already weighed in to Sugar Ray, forcing bookies to cut his opening price for Friday night’s seventh race from $8.50 to $6.50.

And that’s not too surprising comparing the rating 48 to 50 opposition he faces this time with the three-year-old talent he competed against during his last preparation.

After being gelded last Christmas, Sugar Ray came back in March and butted heads with Rubira in the Alabar Classic, Marketplace in the Harness Million, Got The Chocolates in the Derby Prelude and Marketplace in the Northern Derby.

Green says Sugar Ray had only a small break after that and, despite not having trialled, is ready to show something on Friday night in his first race for 10 weeks.

Drawn four in a seven-horse field, he will be partnered by regular driver Maurice McKendry who had plenty of superlatives for the horse after his last win on December 6 when he overcame a gallop 1450 metres out to challenge four and five wide turning in and score in effortless fashion in 2:40.9.

The Rascal … unlucky not to win last start.The Rascal an improver

Of Lincoln Farms’ four other runners on the night, Green is most looking forward to seeing how The Rascal ($5.50) shapes up in the third race.

“We’ve chucked him in the deep end - he’s a maiden against race winners - but he’s improving all the time.

“Fergy had difficulty steering him last time and said if he could have got him out, he would have won.”

Peter Ferguson removed the murphy blind from The Rascal after he warmed up unfavourably and the horse lay in and raced over a track marker near the 1250m.

Despite being a clear last down the back the last time, The Rascal tried to squeeze up the passing lane only to hit another peg 80 metres out then lock wheels with Big Herb 40 metres from the post.

Commentator Aaron White was moved to declare the horse a certainty beaten after he finished 1.7 lengths third to Princess Lisa.

His closing sectionals were all easily the fastest in the race, his last mile in 1:59, 800 in 56.5 and 400 in 28.

“We’ve made little changes to his gear this time and I think he’s a serious contender. He’s got a nice draw in two but he could also do it tough and sit parked if he has to.”

Green doesn’t fancy the chances of Kevin Kline ($13) or Leo Lincoln ($27) in the second race.

“I think Kevin will go another good race but you couldn’t make a case for him to beat the two favourites (American Me or Mantra Blue). If he ran third, I’d be rapt.

“He’s very genuine and his form reflects that.

“For Leo it looks like it will be a replica of his last two runs. He needs to drop down a class.”

Green believes Dreams Of Eric ($9) is probably as good as anything in the last race but his outside draw makes it tough.

“He wasn’t handling the right-handed going so well, which was why he switched to racing at Cambridge, but he’s a genuine little guy, a strong colt with a bit of speed.

“I think he’s a chance, it’s just the draw, but it’s only a small field.”