Ray: Put the line through Johnny’s last run - it was a walk-fest and he copped it late

Don’t mark down Johnny Lincoln on his seemingly disappointing third at Auckland last week, says co-trainer Ray Green.

A much better guide when assessing his chances in the seventh race at Auckland on Friday night would be his previous two efforts, he says.

“You can competely forget that last race. It was a non-event because they went ridiculously slowly. They should have been fined for going so slow.”

Unchallenged in front, driver Crystal Hackett ambled through the first half of the 1700 metres in a ludicrous 1:05.8 on eventual winner Buddy Guy.

It wasn’t until Johnny Lincoln’s driver Peter Ferguson moved up to park 800 metres out and force the issue that the tempo increased.

“The race was just a sprint up the straight and I thought Johnny did well to get so close from three back.”

The closing sectionals underline Green’s claims as Johnny Lincoln reeled off his last 800 metres in 55.9, clearly the fastest.

And he also had to put up with interference just inside the last 200 metres when Buddy Guy veered sideways, checking Johnny Lincoln and forcing Ferguson to take evasive action.

At the line, Johnny Lincoln was a head and a length behind Buddy Guy and Fly High, a margin which obviously influenced the stewards’ decision that there were insufficient grounds for a protest. After viewing the film, the connections of Johnny Lincoln also elected not to proceed with a protest.

“A bit of inexperience got the better of him too,” said Green watching his colt get rough in his action near the line.

“He’s still got a bit to learn but he’s a good mannered little fella and I’m sure he’ll go well on Friday.”

Johnny Lincoln, a two-year-old with just three starts under his belt, meets a field of older rivals this week, but opened a clear $4.50 second favourite behind the capable Steve and Amanda Telfer-trained filly Captain Moonlight ($1.50).

Comeback from white line disease

Tyson downs Turn O The Tide and other talented rivals at Auckland Last December. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.Green says he’s looking forward to seeing how three-year-old Tyson ($11, $2.90) fares in his race five comeback after four months on the sideline.

Green and his training partner Nathan Delany had to pull pin on Tyson’s campaign in February when he developed white line disease, where the hoof wall separates from the hoof capsule.

“We managed to nip it in the bud before it got too bad but had to cut a big piece out of his foot and it took time to grow down.

“His foot is back now and he’s grown into a nice horse. He’s had only one workout but we decided to bring him to the races rather than trial him again against two or three horses.

“He’s a tough horse and I’m keen to see where he’s at.”

Tyson won at his third start last July, beating Turn O The Tide, Always B Magic and Runkle Crunch at Auckland.

And he showed ability beyond his experience when running impressive placings behind stablemate Sugar Ray Lincoln and Chase Me last December.

Green isn’t holding his breath over how Leo Lincoln ($21, $2.30) and Kevin Kline ($1, $2.30) fare in the opening race.

Leo Lincoln (R56) and Kevin Kline (R59) are badly placed against the vastly higher rated American Me (R78) and Mantra Blue (R67) off level marks behind the mobile.

“It’s a particularly sharp rise in grade for Kevin Kline who’s only young and won a R42 to R52 race last time.

“But his form line is impressive. He’s a nicer horse than people realise.

“You couldn’t tip him to beat the two good ones but you never know and I’ll be watching him with interest.”

Green rates the three-year-old potentially better than Leo Lincoln, despite the older horse “having missed few cheques.”

He is only hoping the switch to the mobile start sufficiently negates the brilliant standing start manners of red hot favourite American Me ($1.65), who “quickly killed” his 25 metre handicap last week to lead.

“It could be different this week from the outside of the gate.”