Sugar Ray signals start of good year ahead with tough win; blinkers for Lincoln Wave

Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green is predicting a good year ahead of Sugar Ray Lincoln after his come-from-behind win at Auckland on Friday night.

In a driving finish, Copy That’s little brother got the judge’s decision by a neck over the late-closing Blazing Louie, with his better fancied stablemate Lincoln Wave a nose away in third.

“He’s much stronger this time and I think he’s got a good year in front of him, he should make a bit of money.”

Green said Sugar Ray Lincoln had been a late maturer despite already being the winner of $115,145 from six wins and 11 placings.

“I’d hoped he’d be a derby horse but he’s only now come up in the withers and I suspect the best of him is yet to some.”

Green said he was pleased to see the four-year-old finally get a sweet trip on Friday night, after driver Peter Ferguson slotted him in three back in the running line.

“He’s been parked a few times lately doing all the donkey work, which is not ideal, but he’s still run on because he’s such a tough bugger. But he’s much better coming from behind.”

Having his sixth run in as many weeks, Sugar Ray Lincoln confirmed that when coming from near the tail of the eight-horse field round the home turn.

But Green, who trains with Nathan Delany, admitted he was surprised to see the horse go past Lincoln Wave near the finish after driver Maurice McKendry had given the warm favourite the one-one trail.

“Sugar Ray is probably fitter and tougher than Wave but I thought Wave should still have won. Maurice said he felt really good and swished past them easily then just nothing. He switched off as soon as he hit the front.

“He’s starting to get into the habit of doing that so we’ll put blinkers on him next time to get his attention better.”

Sugar Ray Lincoln cut out the mile in 1:54.9, much to the delight of owners John and Lynne Street, Green’s wife Debbie, Ian Middleton and Phil Cook.