Angelic Copy grabs Lincoln Linda near the post in their last clash at Auckland. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Ray needs good results from blood test and gear change to repel southern fillies’ charge
By Barry Lichter • 9 April 2025
Co-trainer Ray Green needs two things to happen if he is to repel the southern challengers in the two-year-old fillies’ race at Auckland on Friday night.
Lincoln Farms has the unbeaten Angelic Copy and the erratic but speedy Lincoln Linda in the 10th race, where the two favourites are the Cran and Chrissie Dalgety-trained The Queen’s Gambit and Purdon racing’s debutant River.
But firstly, Green needs a positive blood report from Angelic Copy ($3.40) on Thursday morning after the filly had a minor tie-up episode earlier in the week.
“I’m not too worried as she’s bouncing around today but we won’t risk her if she’s not right,” Green said.
“If she lines up, she’ll race pretty well. She’s a proper little racehorse and you can’t fault what she’s done. How far she goes remains to be seen.”
Secondly, Green says he needs to see a gear change work on Lincoln Linda ($6.50) who has been beating herself in her recent racing.
“We’ve got her geared up so she’s not trying to kill herself any more. We’re using a different bit which gives the driver more control over her and she’s submitted to it. She’s been training well in it.”
Green says the only thing that separates Lincoln Linda, who has run three placings, and Angelic Copy, who boasts three wins, is their manners.
“Angelic Copy’s manners are excellent whereas the other filly is a bit of a twit. But more racing will settle her down. She’s improving slowly and is going better now.”
The Queen’s Gambit looked a winner-in-waiting when a close fourth on debut at Addington.Southern favourite The Queen’s Gambit ($2.80) is the complete opposite and looked a ready-made runner when she sat parked for the last 1300 metres on debut at Addington and finished less than two lengths from Purdon Racing’s Secret Wish. Drawn the pole, she is clearly the one to beat.
Racing to lose rating points
Green isn’t holding his breath for any of Lincoln Farms’ remaining three runners, two of whom are only going around to lose rating points.
Lincoln La Moose ($21), the lowest rated in the fifth race, looks to have little chance against much better performed horses like Invisible, Always B You and Captain Sampson.
“He’s very honest and from one he’ll get a nice trip, which will help, but he’s really just going round to lose points.”
Im Not The Maid is even worse off in the opening race, where she is a forlorn $41 chance in early betting.
“She can’t win. She’s only in the race because there’s nowhere else to go at the moment.
“She’s in a very unfair spot in the ratings. She’s an R51 after winning two low stake races on Tuesday meetings at Cambridge. I’ve got better horses here who are rated a lot lower than her.
“So we have no option than to race to drop points.”
With Debbie Lincoln scratched with a foot injury, it is left to Sugar Ray Lincoln ($8.50) to fly the green flag.
“He’s trained on well and on his best form, he’d be hard to beat. But I don’t know what to expect from him, he’s a hard horse to read.”
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Spirited Belle
4.46pm
Delany: “I saw she’d been punted but somebody must know something we don’t as I’ve been working her myself and, while she feels all right and hasn’t put the boot in like at Auckland, I think she’ll need the run. She hasn’t got any high speed but feels like she will stay. She has improved a bit but I’d be surprised if she won.”
Race 1: Lincoln Maree
4.46pm
“It’s always hard from these draws but she’s a tough mare who will make her own luck at some stage. She’s going well enough - her drivers have all been happy - and she’s a little warrior who tries like hell.”
Race 2: Major Copy
5.12pm
“He’s only two and very inexperienced but he feels like a good colt and there’s a lot of improvement in him. He certainly caught a lot of people’s attention last time. I don’t know how good he is yet but he’ll be right there.”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.12pm
“If he can lead without having to do too much work I can’t see anything beating him. I thought he went great last start. He pressed the winner hard ’til the corner then just flattened out in the run home, but he had every reason to do that after all the work he’d done.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.12pm
“She’s been undone by bad draws. If she led easily from three she’d be hard to beat as she’s a good front-runner.”
Race 4: Spirited Peggy
6.12pm
“We’ve had her for only two weeks but she’s seven now and has had her chance to win one. She has a bit of speed but I think she gets pulling so we’ve got the Hidez (compression) hood on her and plugged her ears up.”
Race 6: Copy N Paste
7.10pm
“We won’t see the best of him for another six months. He’s been a slow developing horse but is improving all the time and getting stronger.”
Race 6: Jessie Lincoln
7.10pm
“If I was having a bet on one of them in the race it would be her. She deserves to win one. Her last two have been really good - she just ran into one who was a bit slicker last time in Major Copy.”
Race 6: Lincoln Dealer
7.10pm
“He’s a bit one-dimensional - you’ve got to feed him track and let him run - so the second row draw is a big handicap. To his credit I was surprised he finished so close last time after all the work he did. When he gets a decent draw and crosses them they’ll know they’re at the races. He’s got a big motor and tries hard.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.08pm
“She clawed her way to the front last time but had nothing left at the finish. That won’t happen this time and she should lead easily from one.”
Race 8: Angelic Copy
8.08pm
“She’s had terrible draws but has been going good races. The others last time were just better than her but this is a big drop in class. With the right trip she could get some of it at huge odds.”
Race 9: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.35pm
“He’s not quick away from a stand but he won’t muff it completely. He steps from the front line and Peter Ferguson was quite happy with his last run.”
Race 9: Lincoln Wave
8.35pm
“He bombed the stand the first time but to be fair all those horses were rushing up at him from the back and that panicked him a bit. He’s on 10 metres this time so that won’t happen.”
