Tyson powers home along the markers for a close fifth in last week’s strong Metro Final.
With a little more room, look for Tyson to land another knockout blow at Auckland on Friday
By Barry Lichter • 5 November 2025
Co-trainer Ray Green believes Tyson deserves to be the favourite at Auckland on Friday night after his excellent fifth in last week’s strong Metro Final.
The battle axe never got the chance to put it to his rivals after drawing the inside of the second row, snowed away three deep yet still rallying late to finish only 1.9 lengths from winner Confederate.
“He was squeezed up late but, with a run through earlier, I reckon he could just about have rounded them up,” Green said.
Tyson started the second rank outsider in that race but, from gate two on Friday night, opened a strong second fancy today at $3, just behind Words ($3.80).
“He never goes a bad race and he’s got to be the one to beat this time from the good draw in an easier field.”
Green says he can’t separate Sugar Ray Lincoln and Kevin Kline in the sixth race, a view also adopted by the bookies who rate them both at $6.50 and $1.85.
“It will come down to whichever one gets the better trip,” said Green of Sugar Ray who starts from two and Kevin Kline who is in three.
Flat tyre
Sugar Ray Lincoln hasn’t started for three weeks when third to the impressive Captain Sampson and Debbie Lincoln, a performance dulled by a tyre deflating during the running.
“But I think he’ll go really well again. He was very good in a workout last week.”
Sugar Ray Lincoln led that 2050 metre heat and fought on strongly when Debbie Lincoln pounced from the trail to finish only a length away, the trip run in a slick 2:34.5, the closing 800 in 56.7 and 400 in 27.5.
Kevin Kline, who was another half length back in third, also pleased and showed he had trained on well since his all-the-way win at Auckland on October 24 when he sizzled home in 56.2 and 27.9.
Kevin Kline faces a very similar field on Friday, with the addition of Confederate, prompting Green to be confident he can go close again.
Meanwhile, Green reports Debbie Lincoln arrived safely in Christchurch this morning and is settling in well at Ken Barron’s West Melton property.
Debbie Lincoln, who tilts at the $200,000 Nevele R Fillies’ Final at Addington on Tuesday, is “right in the zone”, according to Green.
“I don’t need to do much more with her but she’ll have a little bowl around on Saturday.”
More news in Harness
Johnny Lincoln’s big ticker will stand to him in the States and Lover’s also sold to Aussie
No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
