Ray Green has been around harness racing long enough to know you have to really enjoy the good times in this industry as disappointment is usually just around the corner.
So Ray will be really enjoying the fantastic start his team has made to the current season,winning races left right and centre and they show no signs of slowing down at present.
The star of the show is undoubtedly Besotted who looks to have come back from a 14 month injury enforced layoff in great style.
His win last Friday night at Alexandra Park was all class and he looms as a definite threat in the Auckland Cup after Christmas.
Before then he has another assignment looming and it is not the New Zealand Cup
“I think the way the New Zealand Cup is usually run can really get to the bottom of some horses and I think Besotted would be one of those."
“I think it can set horses back and we have finally got Besotted back where we want him so I’d rather aim him at the New Zealand Free For All on the Friday."
“So the New Zealand Cup is definitely not in our plans," Ray said.
The support cast to Besotted has been every bit as good so far this season with the Lincoln Farm barn already having ten wins on the board, lying first equal on the New Zealand premiership as of today.
Horses such as Zach Maguire, Beaudiene Beaufighta and Lincolns Keepsake have all been racing in great form and the locker is not empty yet.
One of the real focuses of the Lincoln Farms team led by Ray is the two year olds and not many seasons go by where Lincoln Farms don't have a high quality two year old racing in the classics.
This year looks to be no different with Ray quite keen on a handful of juveniles.
" At this stage we still have six on track to race this season."
" It takes a lot of work to get to this point as these six have been in work off and on for the last six to eight months.
" You have got to put that kind of time into them or I find they don't stay up very long," Ray said.
The six juveniles are not that far away from the workouts and trials.
They include sales purchases and some homebreds as well
* Alta Intrigue – Colt by Mach Three from Samantha Q by Real Artist
* Sky Diamond – Colt by American ideal from Sky Beauty by In The Pocket
* Spring Campaign – Colt by Courage Under Fire from Spring Thaw by Falcon Seelster
* Vasari – Colt by Art Major from The Bestamancanget by Mach Three
* Lincolns Delight – Filly by American Ideal from Crush by Bettors Delight
* Lincolns Superstar – Filly by Mach Three from Clare De Lune by Beach Towel
Ray was reluctant to single any one of them out at this stage but the time was rapidly approaching where they would be asked some serious questions.
" They will start going to trials and workouts from the middle of November through to early December and we will know a lot more once they have been there."
" In saying that I couldn't be happier with their progress to date and would be surprised if a few of them don't take the step up," Ray said.
The way that Lincoln Farms consistently produce quality juveniles, the debut trials and workout runs of their six babies is eagerly awaited.
Harnesslink Media