Sugar Ray Lincoln and Kevin Kline in fighting form for Friday night at Auckland

Rejuvenated pacer Sugar Ray Lincoln and the uber-professional Kevin Kline give Lincoln Farms a strong hand in a competitive sixth race at Auckland on Friday night.

Sugar Ray’s pole position sees him open a warm $3.80 favourite while Kevin Kline as sixth favourite is offering $8, but Lincoln Farms’ co-trainer Ray Green gives both horses a relatively equal chance.

“You can’t fault what Sugar Ray’s been doing lately and he’s been getting out with them so he has to be a serious chance from the inside.”

Green liked the way Copy That’s little brother closed to be only a neck and a nose from winner Confederate last week, the favourite enjoying a perfect trail while Sugar Ray sat parked until getting cover for the last lap.

But Green also fancies Kevin Kline to upset some of his more fancied rivals.

“Kev and Sugar Ray are pretty much on a par. Kev never goes a bad race, he’s just such a professional.”

Despite being parked for the last lap two weeks ago, Kevin Kline kept fighting when fourth behind the talented Mantra Blue. And his previous run, when fourth over Friday night’s 1700 metres, saw him finish within two lengths of Midnight Miki, pipping Sugar Ray, who was albeit unlucky when denied clear air in the run home.

Tyson, centre, likes to race tough. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.In the same mould, Tyson ($11, $2.70) looks a bit of overs in the fourth race, where as the top raced horse in the field he draws the outside of the gate.

“Drawn out there makes it tough over 1700 metres but he’s been making his own luck.

“He’s not brilliant out but if he pushes on to be handy he’s got to be a big chance again. He needs to be up there on the pace or he doesn’t try too hard.”

Tyson faces an easier field than he met last week, when he sat parked for the last lap for third to Final Change. And he has good form behind Confederate before that, beaten only a neck.

Johnny Lincoln ($27, $4.80) and Prince Lincoln ($67, $9) both look tested in the Sires’ Stakes heat.

But Green is confident Johnny Lincoln won’t over-race like last week when he was much too fierce four deep on the markers.

“He won’t pull this time. We’ve got a different bit on him so Maurice will have him under control.”

Prince Lincoln, who punched through a gap in the home stretch last time, only to “hover there”, has drawn the outside of the arm.

“He’ll need to get stronger and you couldn’t see him beating Fugitive ($1.80).”

Rivergirl Bella ($91, $11) might have the good ace draw in the Caduceus fillies’ heat but she has a lot of improvement to make to be competitive on Friday.

Taken back to the rear from a wide draw last week, the Lazarus filly never fired up.

“It will be interesting to see what she can do from a good draw - she’s got some speed and if she holds up early she’ll get a good trip. But she, too, needs to get stronger.”