Sammy’s back, trialling well, and the bookies are keeping him very safe on Friday night

The bookies are keeping Sammy Lincoln safe for his resumption at Auckland on Friday night and co-trainer Ray Green is expecting a good run, without labelling him a winner.

Sammy Lincoln ($3.60) has drawn four in the third race, one inside the favourite War Chief ($2.50), and the way the three-year-old is training, Green says he’s hoping he’ll go well.

“Long term we’re hoping he progresses to a derby campaign but I’ve talked him up so many times, I’m afraid to again.”

Sammy Lincoln hasn’t raced since May 29 but showed a couple of weeks earlier why the stable has held him in high regard for so long, ending a run of outs, caused by a combination of greenness and bad luck, with a decisive win at the Park.

With regular driver Harrison Orange in Australia, the drive on Sammy Lincoln goes to Andre Poutama.“He’s had a decent spell and is looking in good nick and I think he should be competitive on Friday as he’s fairly forward. He’s not one who takes a lot to screw down so I’m picking he’ll come to it pretty quickly.”

In his only serious outing at the Pukekohe workouts on July 14, Sammy Lincoln cruised to the lead in the run home and was not pushed by Andre Poutama, nosed out on the line by Friday’s race rival Gotta Go Miki.

With regular driver Harrison Orange in Australia, Poutama retains the reins on Friday night.

Green doesn’t expect Colonel Lincoln ($31, $5) to trouble Sammy on Friday, given he starts from three on the second row in his first outing for nearly three months.

Colonel Lincoln was given an easy workout behind Sammy Lincoln, finishing last of five, but Green says he’s training down well enough.

“The draw’s probably got him covered but he’ll go an honest race. He’s been outclassed a few times but he very rarely goes a bad race.”

Surprise return

Leo Lincoln ($14, $3.10) makes a surprise return in the ninth race considering he should have been racing in Canada by now.

“We had him sold in May but he failed the scope. It turned out he had an epiglottis entrapment.

“It was nothing too serious and was fixed with fairly standard surgery.

“Who knows how long he’d had the problem so it will be interesting to see how he goes on Friday.”

Leo Lincoln ran third in the same workout heat as Sammy Lincoln on July 14 and Green suspects he’ll probably need the run.

“I wouldn’t say he’s on top of his game yet but he’s drawn well (one) and steps well so I’m picking he’ll get a nice trip. He’s up there in the grades now but hopefully he’s good enough to get a cheque.”

Ultimate Cullect ($26, $4.20) starts alongside Leo Lincoln in two but will need to improve on her two runs back this prep.

“She locked on a rein at Cambridge and Andre couldn’t get her to go down into the passing lane. He said she was travelling well at the time.

“She’s another who needs a solid pace to be of any effect. A sit and sprint is no good for her.

“It’s hard to see anything toppling American Me and Little Spike, with that maximum back mark of 30 metres.”