Ray’s view on Friday’s Sires’ Stakes heat: Sugar Ray getting stronger all the time

Don’t expect Sugar Ray Lincoln ($31, $6) to get too involved early in Friday night’s first Sires’ Stakes heat at Auckland despite drawing best of the favourites.

But Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green is expecting a good run from the improving colt against what he describes as a very even bunch of two-year-olds.

“We haven’t asked him to leave the gate yet - he probably has the speed if you wanted to - but I’d like him to have a bit more confidence before we do that.

“He’s quite an immature colt but he’s coming to it and getting stronger as he matures. He’ll end up quite a strong horse.”

Green was pleased to hear driver Maurice McKendry report Sugar Ray felt strong in winning his workout at Pukekohe last Thursday.

After trailing third, McKendry moved out to the death seat 700 metres out before powering home to nose out race rival Captain Sampson, closing in 57.7 and a slick 26.5.

Sugar Ray Lincoln … not ready to be pushed out of the gate.“Maurice said he didn’t quite handle the corners as good as he’d like but otherwise he felt good.”

Green liked the way Sugar Ray finished when seventh in his last race at Auckland on July 26.

“He was very wide most of the way and was closing better than anything in the race,” Green said.

Three wide and three back for the last 1100 metres, Sugar Ray did extremely well to record 56.8 and 27.7 and his last mile of 1:59.9 was second fastest only to winner Semba.

Cord broke

That despite McKendry being unable to pull the deafeners when the cord broke - “it’s hard to tell how much that would have affected him,” Green said.

Green said no one horse stood out in Friday’s race. Likely favourite Bar Louie had shown he could do things wrong and Confederate and the other two Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained runners were all on the second row.

“I don’t see anything that stands over them so it’s not a foregone conclusion and our two colts are both nice.”

Lincoln Lou ($21, $4) would need luck from the outside of the gate but Green said he was a good little horse who was seldom out of the money.

Pipped two necks last start by Runkle Crunch and Hearts N Aces, Lincoln Lou was clocked over his last 800 in 56 and 400 in 27.4.

And before that he was nailed only in the shadows of the post by Semba.

“He’s a good little horse who is getting stronger all the time.”

Lincoln La Moose runs fourth dragging a punctured tyre.Three unlucky runners

Green is expecting good runs from all three of his runners in the second race, Lincoln La Moose, Obadiah Dragon and Leo Lincoln all devoid of luck in recent starts.

Lincoln La Moose ($34, $7.50), who has the advantage of the pole, had his finish blunted last start after getting a puncture 1400 metres from home.

Despite that he still issued a sprint lane challenge, coming up only 2.3 lengths short of winner Upstage.

Stable driver Nathan Delany takes the reins on Friday.

Leo Lincoln ($9, $2.80) had zero luck last time at Auckland last week, everything going sweetly in the one-one before he was checked out of the race, not once but twice.

No sooner had parked runner Joe’s Rock come back on him at the 500 than Invisible scouted round his outer and galloped, checking him again.

“Prior to last time he’d hardly ever missed a cheque.” said Green who has engaged McKendry again from a tricky seven draw.

Green believes Obadiah Dragon ($13, $3.70) and regular driver Andre Poutama could trump their stablemates from the perfect two draw.

“He could be our best of the night. He’s been going good races all along and has just got back a bit too far in some of them.”

Four back on the markers last week, Obadiah Dragon closed in 55.7 and, though held up, finished just 2.3 lengths away in sixth, his last section of 27.3 equal fastest with winner Frisco Bay.

Frisco Bay ($15, $3.70) gets a good draw in the $35,000 Northern Metro Final but will have to be every bit as good as Green hopes he is to win.

“Last week he showed he’s up with the nice three-year-olds. He’d have to beat this lot to really stamp himself but I’m hoping he can pick up some of the money.

“On paper barrier four gives him an advantage on the favourites but it’s a handy field and Hawkeye Pierce looks best of them at this stage.”