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
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Debbie Lincoln pleases in searching workout after missing start at Auckland on Friday
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Tuesday at Addington
Race 9: Debbie Lincoln
4.03pm
“She’s drawn out but I think she’s got the gate speed to be put into the race. You’ve got to be handy to beat the good ones and we don’t want to be stuck behind some of the others. The one drawn two inside us, Arafura, looks the one to beat but Debbie is as good as anything in the race in my opinion. It’s not going to be easy but I’m hopeful. She’s done well down here and is in good shape.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 5: Im Not The Maid
6.17pm
“The draw helps and while she’s very honest she still needs to improve. Gary Hall said she was a bit stop-start last time but he cut corners and wasn’t too far away at the finish. He reckoned his toe rope broke at the top of the straight.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
7.49pm
“She showed no speed when resuming and it’s hard to see her playing a part in this.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
7.49pm
“She went the best of them last time, was hampered turning or home, and could improve.”
Race 8: Jessie Lincoln
7.49pm
“She’s a big filly but so far, so good. There are a few negatives, like the second row draw and it being her first time under lights, but I think she could go quite well. It’s not a wonderful lot against her and she’s training well.”
Race 8: Lincoln’s Spice
7.49pm
“She over-raced early first-up and burned herself out. She’s a delicate little thing but we’ll put some plugs in her this week. Last time in I thought she could be the best of them. Whether the others have caught her up or she’s gone backwards I don’t know.”
