Four wins for newly-minted Green-Delany partnership at Alexandra Park

By Michael Guerin

It has taken Nathan Delany less than two months to accomplish a feat many trainers will never dream of.

But rather than trying to pat himself on the back the 25-year-old puts it all down to team work.

Delany only joined Ray Green in partnership on New Years Day and last night the pair trained four winners at Alexandra Park in Debbie Lincoln, Lincoln Lou, Colonel Lincoln and two-year-old Prince Lincoln.

One of those victories was a certainty as Green and Delany trained the whole five-horse field in the two-year-old race as they cash in early on the juvenile bonuses before most of their rivals even have their babies at the trials.

It has been a wonderful start to the partnership for Delany, who had already been training just a horse or two but his whole career has gone to another level in 2025.

“It was a great night, very enjoyable,” he told HRNZ.

“But it is a team effort. We have a great team and everybody works in well together.

“And it is a happy team so we are going well.”

Some of Friday’s winners could have far bigger targets on the immediate horizon including Debbie Lincoln and Lincoln Lou.

“We have always thought a bit of Debbie and she beat two fillies who will be Oaks contenders tonight so that is the way she is heading,” says Delany.

Lincoln Lou was driven like the best horse in the race to win Race 2, the Lincoln Farms Mobile Pace, and while he has already dipped his toe in the big time he will head back that way soon. 

“He will head to the Harness Millions (March 21) and after that the Derby.

“Andre drove him perfectly and he is getting better all the time as his gait improves.”

Also improving is Colonel Lincoln, who Delany tipped out to HRNZ readers as a horse to follow last month and he went to a new level sitting parked to win on Friday.

“I don’t know what Ray has planned for him but I think he will be a decent standing start horse too when he tries it and that will help.”
 
Prince Lincoln led throughout in the Golden Gait 2025 - Enter Your Horse Now Mobile Pace to just hold out Lincoln Lover and Delany says there is little between the pair.

“Prince Lincoln really improved with that first race but we actually think he is a better horse with a trail.

“But Lincoln Lover is getting better every time he leaves the property.”

While Green and Delany had to win performance of the night for their training exploits the equine eyecatcher was Kyvalley Hotspur in the small intermediate trot.

He overcame most of his 45m handicap in the Lone Star Alexandra Park Handicap Trot very quickly and was then allowed to cruise by Crystal Hackett before strolling clear untouched to win by 10 3/4 lengths to suggest he deserves his shot at the TAB Trot in April.