Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night

Watch driver Robert Argue in the closing stages of Lincoln Lover’s lead-up trial and you’ll see why the stable rates him a good winning chance at Auckland on Friday night.

The two-year-old sweeps up to the leaders turning for home and looks set to go straight on by when Argue starts looking down at his right wheel.

Argue then takes hold and looks repeatedly down at what Lincoln Farms co-trainer Ray Green says was a punctured trye and tube wrapped around the wheel.

Lincoln Lover closes the heat with a 28 last quarter without being fully tested, just a head and neck behind Lilith and Fly High, a smart debutant for Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan in June.

“Something hit his wheel at the top of the straight so the run was even better than it looked,” Green said.

Prince Lincoln scores at Auckland in February. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.“I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night.

“This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”

In his first campaign in March the Bettor’s Delight gelding had the very talented Allamericanplayer all out to beat him, the Team Telfer horse going on to win the Group I Welcome Stakes and Group II Sapling Stakes.

And Lincoln Lover closed out a four-race second prep in September with a brave second to Seaside Boss after sitting parked for the last 1100 metres.

While he lacks face fitness on Friday night, Green says driver Peter Ferguson only has to negotiate an escape path from the inside of the second row to be a major contender at $5 and $1.90.

Green is also looking forward to getting fellow two-year-olds Prince Lincoln ($3.50) and Johnny Lincoln ($12) back in the final race.

“Prince Lincoln has grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be.

“He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw on Friday.

“Both he and Johnny Lincoln are training down quite well but Johnny’s just drawn a bit awkwardly in seven.

“It’s a fine line between them but, if push came to shove, Prince would be the one you’d expect to be the most likely to succeed. He, too, has raced against some of the best.”

Prince Lincoln warmed up for Friday night with a solid second in a Pukekohe workout behind the very capable Cyclone Rebel, making ground on the winner in a slick 26.6 final quarter.

Heart-breaking draw

Debbie Lincoln ($34, $6) meets all the best in her first assignment back from cup week, the $100,000 Woodlands Queen Of Hearts.

And, while she has been training well, and is coming in after a superlative come-form-behind fifth in the NZ Pacing Oaks, Green is resigned to her being right up against it from the outside of the second row.

“She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”

The bookies don’t give Sugar Ray Lincoln ($17, $1.55) and Tyson ($20, $1.65) much chance against much higher rated rivals in the Northern Three-Year-Old Stakes.

“But I don’t think they’re completely overshadowed,” Green said. “Captain Sampson and Greased Lightnin’ are very fast but I don’t know how tough they are.”

Green says Sugar Ray Lincoln’s formline says it all - “It’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”

Sugar Ray Lincoln has had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim.

And Tyson is backing up after a terrific third behind Arden’s Memory in a strong $35,000 Metro Final last week.

“He was a bit unlucky that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but the winner was very good.”

Tyson registered by far the fastest closing sectionals in the race, a full second quicker than the winner.