Ray rues Colonel Lincoln mismatch, leaving Lou best of the night at Auckland on Friday

It could only happen in Auckland.

Progressive pacer Colonel Lincoln has gone from being a hot commodity one week to a $41 outsider on Friday night.

Just last week, Colonel Lincoln showed real grit to sit parked all the way at Alexandra Park and still deal to his rivals, exciting his driver, trainer and owners.

With a seven-point rating penalty, he now finds himself jumping from a R45 to R53 race to a R60 and faster race which he realistically can’t win.

Taking on Purdon Racing’s R71 Rubira is bad enough but co-trainer Ray Green laments seeing his horse forced to try to compete, on level terms, with Ohoka Connor, one of the countrys’ fastest horses rated R94.

“Sadly, it’s a sign of the times,” says Green. “We’re short of horses and either we go in or we don’t race.

“I’m sure he’ll go his usual good race but it is a real step-up in class.”

The bookies’ opening market reflects the mismatch - four-race winner Colonel Lincoln v 10-race winner Ohoka Connor ($2.10), winner of eight of his first nine starts and last-start dead-heater with Miracle Mile runner-up Sooner The Bettor behind The Big Lebowski in the Junior Free-for-all at Addington during cup week.

Even from the pole position, Green says it’s hard to see the five-year-old keeping up his run of paying a dividend in each of his six runs back from a long spell.

Lincoln Lou (Andre Poutama) cruising at the finish last week.Last week’s decisive winner Lincoln Lou then becomes Lincoln Farms’ best chance of the night in the fifth event.

“He’s way better than anything else in the race and the only thing that can beat him is himself,” Green said.

Until last Friday night, Lincoln Lou had cost himself several times by pacing roughly early.

“But he was good last time and we saw what he is capable of.”

Against a mediocre line-up of R37 to R44 rivals, Lincoln Lou was never challenged after finding the top, running away to an effortless two and a half length win in 2:43.5.

Andre Poutama takes the reins again on Friday night in a higher graded R49 to R59 event but, from two, the TAB bookies rate him second favourite at $3.30 behind Always B Misty ($2.50).

Kevin Kline, Lincoln Farms’ only other runner in the opening event, fared badly in the draws and will need luck from the inside of the second row.

But Green suggests the TAB’s $20 and $4 odds might be under-estimating his chances given the horse he follows out, Tugawar, has the speed to lead.

“If we can hold up enough to trail then he becomes a chance.”

Third to Colonel Lincoln last week, Kevin Kline was only half a neck behind runner-up Roy Kent, finishing on resolutely in the second fastest last mile of 1:59.1.