The Magic Man will need plenty of wizardry to beat Merlin at Auckland on Thursday night

Colonel Lincoln is shaping up as Lincoln Farms’ best two-year-old but trainer Ray Green doesn’t expect him to be able to match the unbeaten Merlin at Auckland on Thursday night.

Punters got a sneak preview of the likely result of the tenth race when an identical field contested a workout at Pukekohe last Friday.

And while Colonel Lincoln led that 2050 metre heat, it was the swooping home turn run by Merlin that caught the eye, charging home from last to beat Son Of Mac by half a head, with Colonel Lincoln a length back in third.

Unbeaten in four races, three workouts and two trials, Merlin will be having his first race for five months and has drawn the outside gate, but he will still be at short odds to win.

Colonel Lincoln, pictured after Friday’s workout, is improving all the time.“Colonel Lincoln went great at the workouts,” Green said. “I like him, I think he’s got a good future but Merlin and a couple of the others might have a bit more speed than him. When they stretch out the distance a bit, that’s when he’ll shine. We’re aiming him at the Sires Stakes Final at Addington.”

That said, Green likes the fact Colonel Lincoln has drawn two, from where he’s likely to be given a perfect trip by driver Maurice McKendry.

“It’s always hard to predict how these races will be run but in small fields they can just walk and roar up the straight.”

That’s why Green says his second runner Frankie Major might struggle on Thursday night.

“He’s drawn badly because he’s won a couple of races so we’ll be looking for a bit of luck with him. But he’s always a chance of getting a cheque if things go his way. He’s pretty good at the sit-and-sprint caper.”

Another horse which Green likes, but probably can’t win, is Riverman Sam who is the sole horse on the front line in race seven but come up against the super talented Old Town Road.

“John Dickie’s horse will be hard to beat, even from 30 metres, but I don’t see why we can’t get some money. He went well last time and the only real glitch in his form line is when he tied up. I always give him a chance and he should bounce back.”

Riverman Sam has won from a stand and over 2700 metres so can’t be discounted as a place prospect.

Maurice McKendry after driving My Copy into third at last week’s workouts. He said the horse copped numerous checks in his last race.My Copy and Major Grace strike a more winnable race in the last, drawn three and four.

“Major Grace was good at Cambridge last start. She’s no star but she’s a trier and should be right there.

“You can forget My Copy went round last time, it was a virtual no-race for him as Maurice (Mckendry) said he got multiple checks. He could be right in the fray, and even win, if he got the right trip.”

Green finds it hard to give Riverboy Ben much chance in the sixth race where he comes up against some smart three-year-olds, including Miki Noel, Montana DJ, Ultimate Missile and Blazing Louie.

“His last two starts have been vast improvements though. He was a little unlucky last time, he should have finished second or third.

“He’s learning to settle down a bit. He’s been beating himself.”

Green says it looks like being one of those nights where the team will need plenty of luck - “but we have some place chances.”