Ray sweet on Auckland debutant: Copy That’s little bro’ Sugar Ray feels like the real deal

“He feels like the real deal.”

Trainer Ray Green’s early assessment of Sugar Ray Lincoln augurs well for the future of the two-year-old full brother of champion pacer Copy That.

But, just like the dual New Zealand Cup winner took time to make, Green isn’t saying his little bro’ is simply going to turn up and win at first time of asking at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

“I wouldn’t like to predict anything spectacular from him yet - you saw Copy That’s development. He went through a period where he was hard to deal with.

“But comparing the two at the same stage this one’s a lot more tractable.”

Sugar Ray Lincoln at Alexandra Park for the first time last week.Sugar Ray showed that in his first trial at Auckland last Friday night when he took 500 metres to find the lead then staved off two well regarded juveniles in the Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan team, I Got Chills and Confederate, who oppose him again on Friday night.

The performance was not foolproof, however, the green colt spooked by early evening shadows on the track.

“He’s still got a few little quirks that we need to work on, a bit like his brother. He can put a little step in here and there. But we’ll put a shadow roll or brush on him on Friday night.”

Green, who drives the American Ideal colt in most of his work, says he’s been impressed by how quickly Sugar Ray has improved this preparation.

“He’s come a long way in a short time. A week ago he was down to only 2:05, so he’s certainly lifting his game.”

Sugar Ray clocked a slick 1:59.1 mile rate for his 1700 metre trial last week, finding more when challenged close to the post.

“That’s the first time we’ve put him on the front end, he’s normally been off the pace. And he did that quite nicely. When the other horse came at him he stepped it up a notch and and held him at bay.

“He’s not one to over exert himself. You won’t ever see him race away by four or five lengths. He only does what he has to, but I like that in a horse.

“He’ll just stick his head out in front and switch off.”

Green says it’s impossible to know yet how far the $60,000 yearling Sugar Ray will go but what he’s seen so far is encouraging.

“Of all Copy That’s relatives he’s shown the most.”

Lincoln Farms has trained three of the four foals which broodmare Lively Nights has left since Copy That.

And he says being a lot taller than Copy That, and still growing, Sugar Ray should end up with a physique more like their first, My Copy, a strapping black by Highview Tommy, who has won five races for his wife Debbie.

Debbie Green with Lincoln’s Copy … a work in progress.Their three-year-old out of Lively Nights, Downbytheseaside colt Lincoln’s Copy, who cost $30,000, is a work in progress, says Green.

“We’re up against it with him at the moment. He has a lot of raw ability but they forgot to put some brains in there.

“He could race tomorrow fitness-wise but you couldn’t put him out there, he’s a bit of a lunatic. You’d have to let him run. But Sugar Ray does things nicely and it will be interesting to see what he can do on Friday night.

“They’re talking up the Purdon pair and Tony Herlihy’s two (Great White and Roy Kent) go well.”

The Herlihy pair proved too good for Lincoln Farms’ other runner Lincoln Lou when debuting at Cambridge, when he found himself in the unfamiliar role of being attacked out of the gate.

“Early on Sugar Ray could round him up easily but the other little guy has improved a bit, so it’s hard to really know yet. We haven’t wanted to push them too hard.”

Lincoln Lou gets away from his stablemate and the Herlihy and Purdon/Phelan runners on Friday, drawn in the earlier two-year-old race at 7.05pm.