Ray’s classroom tip: Cheap fillies ‘most likely to succeed’ in north’s first two-year-old race

Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green labels a couple of cheap fillies as “the most likely to succeed” in Friday night’s first two-year-old race in the north this season.

With five of the six starters, Lincoln Farms looks to hold a stranglehold on the second race at Alexandra Park, only the Stonewall Stud colt Allamericanplayer standing in its way.

And, befitting Lincoln Farms’ recent policy of buying cheaper horses to suit its owners, and more weanlings, the combined price tags of their entire contingent comes in under the $155,000 Telfer-trained yearling.

Green says $7500 weanling Angelic Copy, raced by his wife Debbie, and $25,000 yearling Lincoln Linda are ahead on both experience and fitness on the more expensive colts.

“Lincoln Linda, though drawn the outside, should really be the one to beat, based on her trial.

“She’s quite a strong filly, who is well gaited and should go forward.

Lincoln Linda … strong filly who looks the one to beat. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.“Maurice (McKendry) has driven her two or three times and he likes her.”

By long-time champion sire Bettor’s Delight, the filly’s dam High Society Gal is a sister to Chachingchaching who did a great job for Lincoln Farms, winning three two-year-old races and another four at three, before his sale to Australia in 2015 where he won another nine races, pacing a career fastest of 1:51.6 at Menangle.

Lincoln Linda has shown the same precociousness, winning both her workouts and only trial, on January 16, when she led all the way and pipped Angelic Copy, with fellow race rival Lincoln Lover third.

Angelic filly

Green describes Angelic Copy as a lovely filly who does everything right.

“She and Linda train and trial together and are much more forward than the others. She’s a proper little tradesman who can do whatever you want and she tries hard.”

Angelic Copy is by Betttor’s Wish, a 1:47.6 son of champion sire Bettor’s Delight, whose oldest progeny here are two.

She is the seventh foal of the Christian Cullen mare Dudunka’s Angel, who is a sister to 41-race winner Dudinka’s Cullen. Her two winners so far are Delightful Dude (20 wins) and (He’s) Perfectly Ideal (17 wins).

Rivergirl Bella … fast but not as tractable right-handed as Lincoln Linda.Rivergirl Bella, whom Green trains for her breeder, Philadelphia racing’s Phil Cook, is another with plenty of speed.

“She’s not as tractable as Linda - she doesn’t handle the corners quite as well and might be a little better left-handed. But she’s as good as any of them at the moment and, in the small field, should get her chance.”

Rivergirl Bella scored a strong trial win on January 23 at Pukekohe, leaving Prince Lincoln behind by three and a quarter lengths, with Allamericanplayer third.

Rivergirl Bella, by former pin-up pacer Lazarus, is out of Cook’s Group I winning mare Ideal Alice, who won three races here and 17 in Western Australia.

With three of Lincoln Farms’ better colts, Lincoln Wave, Johnny Lincoln and Sammy Lincoln on the easy list, it’s left to Prince Lincoln and Lincoln Lover to bat for the boys.

But, while Green says they should go well enough, he warns they’re not as forward as the fillies.

“Prince Lincoln is still learning and can do nothing but improve.”

The Always B Miki colt is out of Cullen’s Princess, a half-sister to New Zealand Trotting Cup winner Thefixer (12 wins, $660,771).

Cullens Princess has already produced Gooddealehemily (9 wins), Goodealehmaddie (9 wins), Miki Montana (6 wins) and Lincoln La Moose (2 wins).

Lincoln Lover … will benefit from the experience.Lincoln Lover, who ran a strong third behind Lincoln Linda and Angelic Copy in his January 16 trial, is another who will benefit from the experience, says Green.

“But he’s by Bettors Delight and they tend to lift their game when the money’s up.”

Lincoln Lover’s dam, Ca Cest Lamore, left Aramis, one of the fastest sons of John and Lynne Street’s former star pacer Sir Lincoln, who won three races here and another six in the United States.

The colt is a brother to the talented Serg Blanco who won five races here before being sold to Australia where he has added another eight wins.

His second dam, Les Payzen Star, a half sister to former champ Elsu, left New Zealand Oaks winner Copper Beach (9 wins) who, in turn, produced multiple Group I winner De Lovely (15 wins).

“I’m not bothered which one wins, it’s their first look at the Park and I just want them all to get round safely,” Green said.

Where are all the two-year-olds?

“It’s like a glorified trial really. It suits me having little or no opposition but I can’t believe it’s February and there are only a few two-year-olds qualified.

“It doesn’t hurt them to be racing now. Before the change of birthdays they used to be racing months earlier than this. I can’t believe people are sitting on the fence.”

The winner of Friday’s race will get an $8250 winning stake plus a $12,000 Entain bonus.

With a record 13 runners on Friday night, or 23% of the entire card, Green is hoping for a good night.

Check out the ones he rates best in the trainer comments column.