
John Street with his impressive colt Argyle, at $210,000 the most expensive of the yearlings he bought in February.
Ray on Lincoln Farms’ talented new babies: ‘We should have some real sport next season’
The lazy days of lockdown are a mere memory for Lincoln Farms trainer Ray Green.
But you won’t hear Green and his team complaining about having to work 41 horses at Pukekohe.
For apart from the 27 they trained last Saturday, there were another 14 yearlings who on paper, and on early impressions, should be the best young bunch they’ve ever had.
While Green is delighted with how a number of his 17 two-year-olds have weathered the COVID-19 hiatus - horses like Bondi Shake and Jeff Beck developing into beautiful looking animals - he admits to a sense of excitement at seeing his 2020 sale graduates in the cart.
“We’ve gone a bit up market and have some serious yearlings here,” says Green. “We should have some real sport with them next season.”
The 12 colts and two fillies, which cost a total of $1.13 million, include some of the prized catches at both Auckland and Christchurch in February.
Emilio Rosati’s sale-topping $250,000 colt I’m Cushty, since renamed Master Stride (Captaintreacherous - Hi Ho Silver Lining), is a lovely big horse, says Green.
And boss John Street’s pricey Bettor’s Delight pair of Argyle ($210,000) and Next To Me ($200,000) are already pacing beautifully.
“I drove Argyle myself this morning and, while obviously still very green, he’s a very good pacer. Maxim’s brother looks promising too.
“Seven or eight of them are actually really good pacers. I know it’s early days yet but I can’t imagine us not having a couple of serious contenders out of this bunch.”
Ray Green gets to know one of his new yearlings, a cheap American Ideal colt, Whiz On Bye.Green has taken an early fancy to his two fillies also - Nirvana Franco (Bettor’s Delight - Nearea Franco) came with a $100,000 price tag and Major Grace (Art Major - Zariya) cost $48,000.
Pasquale, a Bettor’s Delight - Holly Madison colt, who cost $110,000 also gets an honourable mention as do a few of Green’s more bargain buys, two American Ideal colts, Simply Sam and Louie LeBeau, having a sweet action.
Copy That’s half brother, My Copy, whom Green’s wife Debbie snared for just $3000 as a weanling, has also grown into a beautiful big specimen.
“It will be a month or two before we know which ones will go on and run early. When we pick things up, a couple will object to that, and get turned out. But they’re a good quality lot, more potent than this year’s crop.”
Not that Green isn’t expecting good things from some of his 17 rising three-year-olds.
Impressive debut winner American Dealer has grown a bit and, all going well, will race in July.
“Bondi Shake is looking great. He’s only running halves in 1:10 at the moment but in another week he’ll start going quicker.
“And Jeff Beck has grown into a lovely looking horse. He was crying out for a break earlier in the year but is doing everything beautifully at the moment. He’s always shown plenty.”
Green is also hoping for further improvement from Apieceoflou who really surprised him last prep by qualifying in March.
Off to Australia
Three of his most precocious two-year-olds, Platinum Stride, Prestige Stride and Vanquish Stride, are lost to New Zealand, already booked on a flight to Australia by Rosati because of the uncertainty in stakes here.
Two of Merv Butterworth’s reps, The Emperor and Bettor My Dreamz, are also awaiting transport across the Tasman.
Lincoln Farms’ three-year-olds will all race in New Zealand in the first instance, business manager Ian Middleton keen to see the lie of the land before making any further decisions on their future.
Along with Butterworth’s top liner Copy That, Green is preparing Tommy Lincoln, Man Of Action and Larry Lincoln for racing in July.
“We’ll try them here initially, see how they come up and what the fields and stakes are like. But if they’re only going to be getting one start every two weeks, or are getting rated out of it, then we’ll move them to Australia.”
Green says it will be a few weeks yet before the team is ready to compete at the workouts - “we only started hoppling the two and three-year-olds this week.”
More news in Harness
Friday night’s main event: In the blue corner, Tyson, in the red corner, Sugar Ray
After 40 years in the sulky, Fergie’s just loving his renaissance in the lincoln green silks
Big-spending Mike Tanev snares The Rascal and he’s off to Canada next week
Dreams Of Eric goes from black and blue to blue and white, now for Harness 5000
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”