Short odds on Lincoln Farms’ trio winning on Friday but don’t ask Ray to pick between them

With three of the six runners, Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green will be at short odds to win the seventh race at Auckland on Friday night.

But while Green leans marginally towards Lincoln Lou and Debbie Lincoln, he says even Frisco Bay and Zachary Butcher could win the Zachary Butcher - ATC’s 2024 Leading Driver Pace.

“They’re all winning chances, depending on what sort of a trip they get but, from two, I think Lincoln Lou is the most likely winner.

“He just had to sprint a bit far last week and came very wide.”

Launched 500 metres from home by Butcher, Lincoln Lou ($3.20) looped the field four wide to hit the front 200 metres out, only to succumb late to stablemate Colonel Lincoln, pacing roughly and breaking just after the line.

The Sweet Lou colt moves in from four to two this week and looks a ready-made leader for Andre Poutama.

Debbie Lincoln (6) and Frisco Bay (7) charge home last week.Butcher will sit behind Frisco Bay ($4.60) who, while only fourth behind Roy Kent last week, came from the rear and recorded the fastest closing sectionals of 55.9 and 26.2.

“He finished fast and could be dangerous depending on what sort of trip he gets.”

Also doing her best work late in that race with a 26.4 quarter, Debbie Lincoln ($2.50) closed to less than a length of the winner, looking like she’d improve with the run, her first for more than five weeks.

“She just got into it a wee bit late but got to the line really well.”

Maurice McKendry tells Trackside’s Nicole Sims about Colonel Lincoln’s dominant win.Regular driver Maurice McKendry sticks on Friday night but he vacates the seat behind last week’s dominant winner Colonel Lincoln ($12) in the fourth race, restricted to junior drivers.

Co-trainer Nathan Delany will do the steering from gate five but Green doesn’t expect the niggly draw, or slight rise in grade, to stop him.

“He’s definitely the one to beat. He bolted in last week and did a bit of work as well. This doesn’t look much harder.”

Colonel Lincoln has the Purdon/Phelan-trained Ultimate Racy Girl ($3.40) inside him, the mare certain to enjoy a drop in grade, as will the Telfer-trained Iron Brigade ($2.25).

But Green rates Colonel Lincoln a very progressive pacer who can make his way through the grades.

Kevin Kline ($4.80) drops in grade this week, the fourth race for R41 to R45 pacers, compared with the R46 to R51 event he ran in last Friday.

Though last of the seven runners, Kevin Kline held his ground in the run home and was only 2.9 lengths behind wnner Royal Kent.

Kevin Kline caused a false start last week, Green forgiving him for his youth and greenness.

“He just got his head round. He’s hardly ever gone a bad race and I expect more of the same.”