Ray: Frankie Major still improving and he can give Merlin another fright on Thursday night

Trainer Ray Green is expecting another big race from the improving Frankie Major at Alexandra Park on Thursday night.

The Art Major colt has only five rivals in the two-year-old’s colts’ and geldings’ race but with one of them being the unbeaten Merlin, Green’s not tipping the Lincoln Farms runner as a winner.

“But he’s got enough speed to give Merlin a fright again,” said Green. “He got us only in the last 50 metres last time.”

While Merlin can be expected to improve with that race, his first for more than five months, Green says Frankie will improve too.

“He’s got stronger and stronger and I think from now on he’ll be competitive with all the good ones. He’s a likely big improver.

“I can’t say he’ll beat Merlin but he’s our best shot of the night.”

Since Frankie Major’s last run, when he led until close to home and the closing fractionals were a slick 54.1 and 26.9, the colt has impressed again at the Pukekohe workouts.

Sprinting up sharply from third on the home turn, Frankie Major (Monika Ranger) nosed out the highly touted Rocknroll Hammer and race rival Seve, the 800 in 56.5 and 400 in 26.9.

Stablemate and Thursday night rival Colonel Lincoln was pulled up after breaking badly twice in the running but Green says to take no notice of the lapse.

“Someone put bell boots on him and he didn’t like them. He does cross fire a bit so the farrier has some more work to do.”

Colonel Lincoln, whom Green rates as potentially the best two-year-old in the barn, previously lost time when an abscess had to be cut out of his foot.

On Thursday night he leaves from two on the gate but the 1700 metres might still be a bit short for him as he was left flat-footed when his rivals sprinted last start, digging in late for third.

Maurice McKendry brings My Copy back to scale after his maiden win at Auckland.Copy That’s half brother My Copy will be looking to go back-to-back earlier in the night.

He gets in off the ballot in the fourth race, escaping what would have been a much tougher assignment in race seven.

And from the pole, Green gives him a winning chance again given he gets in well as the equal highest rated runner.

“Maurice (McKendry) knows him well now. I imagine he’ll have a dab for the front again to take advantage of the draw.

“He keeps improving but it’s hard to know how far he’ll go.”

My Copy, who scored his maiden win in a sedate 2:46.4, showed he was up to the mark when winning a three-horse workout last Friday, the tempo upped only for the last 400 in 26.2.

Lincoln Farms’ remaining three runners all contest the second race, Major Grace, Whiz On Bye and Lincoln River all chances to get some money.

Major Grace closes fast but just fails to nab Village Rebel at Cambridge.Surprisingly, Green says if he had to back one of them it would be 18-start maiden Major Grace because from her good draw she’ll be handier than the others.

“She deserves to win a race. She hasn’t gone a bad race this time in. She’s well gaited and honest.”

Major Grace turned in her best performance at Cambridge last week when, after being three deep on the pegs, she ranged up behind the leaders turning for home and ran on well for a half length second to upsetter Village Rebel, her closing 400 of 28.94 the fastest in the race.

Green says the more capable Lincoln River, on the other hand, is going to need luck from two on the second row.

“He looked very promising early but he’s been a bit slow coming to it.”

At Cambridge last week, Lincoln River spent plenty of petrol early, three wide to the death, before landing a one-one sit.

After swinging a little wide on the home turn he closed resolutely for a three-length fifth to smart winner Miki Shan. “He’ll get one soon, but I couldn’t label him on Thursday.”

Whiz On Bye will also be looking for some luck from the inside of the second row.

“But he’ll go a good race if he can get a decent trip. He was held up a bit on the home turn last week but got home really well the last 50 - though I’m not sure if the others were stopping or he was accelerating.”