Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland

With two well spruiked horses against him, it’s not surprising Omaha Lincoln has drifted out from $12 to $17 for his debut at Auckland on Friday night.

The full brother to Lincoln Farms’ talented three-year-old Lincoln Wave finally gets to the races but meets the promising Nathan Purdon debutant Macleod ($1.90) as well as Arna Donnelly’s Night Moves, whose price has tumbled from $6 to $3.50.

That filly’s breeding is well familiar to co-trainer Ray Green, as she is a sister to his now retired champion Copy That, and she showed a lot of the family speed when looping the field down the back straight on debut, only to peak in the run home.

Ray Green … Omaha Lincoln is “a chance if he does everything right.”Green isn’t sure if Omaha Lincoln has that kind of lick but he says the two-year-old certainly has enough speed to be right in the race.

“I think he’ll go a good race but it’s his first time at Alexandra Park so I don’t want to talk him up too much. He’s got enough ability to win a race like this, whether he’s ready to do it, we’ll find out. He can get a bit keen at times but I think he’s a chance if he does everything right.”

This is the third time Green has nominated Omaha Lincoln to start his career, a virus keeping him home the first time then a pre-race incident stopping him from racing at Cambridge on April 9.

Omaha Lincoln hurt himself in the stalls that night, getting his leg over a hopple and ending up upside down. It was only when driver Maurice McKendry was doing his preliminary that the issue was discovered.

“He was very sore for a while, we never really got to the bottom of it, but he probably pulled a muscle. He’s over that now and was good at the trials last week.”

That trial, the horse’s third, saw him lead a two-horse heat and photo-finish his rival in 2:01 for the mile.

Injury-plagued Colonel Lincoln is close to his best form agai.Big improver

The big improver on the night for Lincoln Farms is Colonel Lincoln ($19, $3.90) in the 10th race.

The six-year-old served notice that he was close to his best last week when making a solo run three wide down the back up to third, fighting hard in the run home for third behind Mako and Twista.

“I thought he went super,” Green said. “It was a vast improvement on the previous two starts and you’ve got to remember he was out for a long time. He’s coming to it now and improving all the time.

“I couldn’t label him but I’d be surprised if he’s not in the first three or four. He’s trained on well and gets a front row draw.”

Sugar Ray Lincoln ($16, $3.50), who starts outside Colonel Lincoln in four, just needs a decent trip, says Green, something he’s not had in four runs this prep.

“He was given too much to do last time - up to park at the bell - and you can’t drive the ears off them every time. “Nothing against Fergie’s drive - when you put them in the race like that there’s every chance you have to sit parked. And sometimes you get lucky, like Lincoln Wave did at Cambridge (in the Sires Stakes Semi).

“With a more conservative trip he’d be right in it.”

Spiritual Bliss ($12, $2.25) is sure to go another good race in the fifth, says Green, where she meets her last-start conqueror Francent again.

“It was another great run after leading and she’s a good, tough mare who will go another good race.

“What trip she gets will determine where she finishes.”

While Spiritual Bliss had the luxury of the one alley last start, and easily held the lead, she has drawn five on Friday with plenty of speed inside her.

“I’m picking she might go back this time but I’ll leave that up to the driver (Harrison Orange).”

Prince Lincoln ($10, $2.30) also moves out from the inside draw to gate four in the opening race, which makes his task a lot tougher too.

With a perfect marker run last start he showed what he was capable of, closing hard for second to Social Distancing.

“He actually tried,” Green said. “He’s a nice horse but can change his mind quickly. Full blinds woke him up last time so we’ll see if he responds to them again this time.”

Prince Lincoln will have to be right on top of his game, however, to threaten the Bunty and Gareth Hughes-trained Nymbal ($1.95) who is inside him.

Nymbal turned in a terrific run for fifth in last week’s Northern Derby, won by Jumal, coming wide to make his run.

There for the appearance money only

The final Lincoln Farms’ pair Sharpe Stride and Leo Lincoln are only going around for the appearance money of $1750.

Sharpe Stride ($101, $7) makes a rare debut in a Group I race, the Northern Trotting Derby.

“We only paid $1500 for him so he’s paid for himself in one night,” Green said.

“He’s a nice trotter, a big strong colt. He can get a bit hot but there’s nothing wrong with how he goes.

“He’s certainly not good enough to deal with these but he’s there for a run around.”

And while Leo Lincoln ($301, $6) is in “career best form” Green only put him in the Group I Messenger to help get the race off the ground.

“They were struggling for runners and otherwise I would have had three in one race. The 2700 metres is more up Leo’s alley than the other two (Colonel Lincoln and Sugar Ray Lincoln).

“He gets a starting fee of $1750 so we won’t go home empty-handed. I’m really happy with him, he’s handling right-handed racing better these days.

“But he’s racing the bear cats so I’m not suggesting for a second he’ll give them a fright.”