Kevin Kline (Maurice McKendry) handed out a thrashing on Friday night. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Ray: Improving Kevin Kline won’t be out of place in the bright lights of Broadway
By Barry Lichter • 30 November 2024
Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green is looking forward to tackling richer purses over Christmas-New Year with Kevin Kline after his dominant win at Auckland on Friday night.
“He gave them a comprehensive flogging and he’s potentially a really nice horse,” Green said after driver Maurice McKendry speared the two-year-old clear to beat Spirited Peggy by two and a quarter lengths.
“Maurice said he just jogged it. And even though he ran only 2:44.8, if he’d had to go 2:42 or 2:41, no problem.”
Kevin Kline earned a winning stake of $8250 plus an Entain bonus of $6000, Green miffed the two-year-old incentive was halved because it was not solely a race for two-year-olds.
“Most of his opposition were just average horses and I know there’ll be more competition for the better purses over Christmas but I’m not too worried as he’s pretty classy.
“It’s a big transition from winning a race to racing other winners, and it can be quite daunting for some, but he’s a bit different.
“Most of the time you win a race and think: what am I going to do now?, but he could develop into a tidy racehorse.”
Green said even though the Always B Miki gelding could already run a half in 55 he would only get better with time.
“He’s tall, but not big bodied so he has a lot of strengthening to come. He’s actually come a long way quite quickly.
“When we first leased him from (breeder) Pat Laboyrie he had been only very basically broken in. He and Tyson were out of the same paddock and had been in the cart only twice I think.”
Green credited Andre Poutama with doing the early breaking in at Lincoln Farms. And, from a timid baby who didn’t really know what was going on, Kevin Kline now enjoyed his jogging.
“He’s done a good job from a humble start and to win at only his fifth start shows he’s a pretty good horse.”
Kevin Kline is the eighth and last foal of six-race winner Matai Mies, his first two foals the best, Emily Blunt and Happy Place, who both won eight races.
Green said there had been no shortage of people wanting shares in the horse, one of the latest of Lincoln Farms’ special partnerships.
The big team now includes Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street, Priscilla Edmunds, Lance Myocevich, Trevor Casey, the Red and Blue Syndicate, Ray Menzies, Dave and Daphne Jones, Margaret Rabbitt, Jason Deane and Brent Mulholland.
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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.”
