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Line Up … all class and speed. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.

Start your love affair with Line Up on Friday night at Auckland - he could be extra special

Trainer Ray Green makes no secret of the fact he really rates three-year-old pacer Line Up.

“He could turn into something special,’’ says Green of the colt who makes a return to the track on Friday night after an absence of seven months.

“He certainly has the potential to be a very serious horse and I think he’ll be very competitive in the Sires’ Stakes this year.”

Green doesn’t believe Line Up will be vulnerable in the eighth race on Friday night, despite not having raced since February, when he made a one-act affair of his Alexandra Park debut, winning by two and a quarter lengths on this ear.

“Class will prevail and he should win,” says Green. “He’s in really good shape and I’m looking forward to racing him.

“I’m really pleased with where he’s at and he’s on target for the first Sires’ Stakes heat at Cambridge.”

Line Up, a brother to 17-race winner Partyon, has had four workouts this preparation, winning the latest at Pukekohe last Saturday when he unleashed a tidy late sprint from the trail.

And it’s that rare brand of high speed which Green says will make driver Zachary Butcher’s job so much easier on Friday night, when he will start from six on the front row.

Logic says Butcher will bide his time until he decides to put Line Up into the race but Green won’t be issuing him with any instructions.

“I’ll leave it to Zac. He knows the horse well.”

Double Or Nothing … pull up blinds can turn him into a winner.Double Or Nothing … pull up blinds can turn him into a winner.Butcher will also team again with Double Or Nothing who will be out to break his duck in the fourth race, after yet another placing at Cambridge last week.

Double Or Nothing looked all over the winner when he ranged alongside Jimmy Fox halfway down the stretch, only to appear to knock off and go under by half a head.

Green is hoping the addition of pull-up blinds will solve that problem this week.

“We’re thinking that maybe after he passes them wearing blinkers and can’t see them, he buttons off.”

So on Friday, Butcher will be able to pull up the blinds late and give the horse full vision.

“We’ve got to try something to get him to play the game. He should have two or three by now so he’s been very disappointing in that sense but he’s still a tidy horse and he keeps winning money so we can’t complain.”

Green believes Double Or Nothing could lead out from gate four on Friday night.

“He’s got gate speed and there a few inside him he wouldn’t want to be following.”

The Empress … lovely mare who never goes a bad race. PHOTO: Joel Gillan/Race Images.The Empress … lovely mare who never goes a bad race. PHOTO: Joel Gillan/Race Images.The Empress gives Green a great chance of winning the second race despite her seemingly bad inside second row draw.

And that’s because she could get a perfect slipstream, behind likely leader Court On The Edge.

“If she can get a good trip she’ll be right there as she’s had no luck recently.”

Last time at Auckland The Empress was held up three deep on the markers, on a 27.9 third quarter, and was making ground late for fourth when it was all over.

“It’s hard to make ground when they’re going sub 28. She’s a lovely mare who’s never gone a bad race up here and she has the potential to get even better.

“She went super at the workouts on Saturday.”

Bettor My Dreamz … after just eight races he is virtually handicapped out of racing in New Zealand.Bettor My Dreamz … after just eight races he is virtually handicapped out of racing in New Zealand.Bettor My Dreamz also looked good in his Saturday workout, driven conservatively, but he again looks rated out of things in the seventh race.

The winner of three of his eight starts, and one of his four in the north since joining Lincoln Farms, Bettor My Dreamz is again savaged by the ratings system meeting horses like Dance Time (10 wins), Check In (9 wins) and Solid Gold (7 wins).

“It’s grossly unfair what’s happened to him. He’s won only three races. The system sucks and they need to tweak it. Surely they can see the anomalies which crop up on a regular basis.”

Green says he doubts it will be long before owner Merv Butterworth tires of seeing his horse bashing heads with far higher rated horses and takes him to Victoria where he would be much better placed.

That said, he gives Bettor My Dreamz a solid place chance from his perfect inside alley at the mile start.

Our runners this week

Saturday night at Albion Park

Argyle.

Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Auckland

Race 1: Lincoln La Moose
5.43pm

“Drawn well, he should get a good trip and be the one to beat. He got held up at Cambridge last time and these amateur races are easier to win.”

Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.43pm

“The form line doesn’t show it but he actually went ok last time, they just sprinted and left him flat-footed. He’ll go his usual honest race.”

Race 2: Angelic Copy
6.16pm

“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.”

Race 2: Prince Lincoln
6.16pm

“He’s not as forward as the fillies. He’s still learning and can do nothing but improve.”

Race 2: Lincoln Lover
6.16pm

“He’s another who will benefit from the experience but he’s by Bettor’s Delight and they tend to lift their game when the money’s up.”

Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
6.16pm

“She has a bit of speed but is 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.”

Race 2: Lincoln Linda
6.16pm

“Though drawn the outside, she 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. Maurice (McKendry) has driven her two or three times and he likes her.”

Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.08pm

“He should be dangerous against what is not a wonderful bunch. He trialled well, a nose behind Lewey Maguire (home in 56.4). All three of mine are nice horses and should be right there.”

Race 4: Tyson
7.08pm

“He was laying in on the corners last time at Cambridge and it was just a sprint home. He needs to be driven a bit more aggressively - he’s gone his best races when he’s been put in the race. Remember he sat parked when third to Arna’s good one (Chase Me) in December. He can tough it.”

Race 4: Colonel Lincoln
7.08pm

“He’s training down well, as good as you could expect. He’s done nothing wrong in three starts back. The outside draw is an inconvenience but, when he slots in, he won’t be far off them.”

Race 7: Kevin Kline
8.38pm

“He got held up last time and the winner got away on him. He should get a nice trip from one. He’ll go another honest race and will be in it for a while.”

Race 7: Debbie Lincoln
8.38pm

“She could be quite a nice filly. The way she’s developing I think she’ll be competitive against the better fillies later in the year. She’s quite versatile and can race tough. She has a lot of potential.”

Race 7: Frisco Bay
8.38pm

“He’d be on a par with Debbie for speed but he can get a bit carried away. Hopefully he can get a nice suck into it. I can’t fault the way they’re training and whichever of the two gets the best trip should win.”

Whales Harness