Another smart win by Lincoln’s Kruz - but we’ll have to wait while his shins recover

Smart two-year-old Lincoln’s Kruz again took the eye at today’s Foxton trials, winning as he liked, but the onset of shin soreness means we might have to wait a little longer before we see him strut his stuff on raceday.

The Kuroshio gelding, as he is called in the trial, jumped well in his six-horse heat over 1000 metres, sat second in the running for Lisa Allpress, and took over just after straightening for home.

He maintained a good gallop to the line to win by a length over Sam O’Malley without being asked for too much of an effort.

His time of 1:01.41 was only 0.85 of a second slower than that run in the open heat by Myrtle and Art Deco.

Trainer Lisa Latta says she will wait to see how the $150,000 ready to run buy pulls up before making a decision on what to do with him now but it’s likely he will need six weeks in the paddock.

“He was starting to go shin sore leading into the trial - my trackwork rider noticed it on Saturday morning and said he wasn’t as free as he should be.

“Lisa said it didn’t feel like it affected his action today but it’s likely he’ll need a freshen-up. We don’t need to be rushing him.’’

With a second and a win in two jumpouts and today’s trial Lincoln’s Kruz has now had three decent gallops, impressing Latta each time.

Lincoln Green … smart stayer in the making who is ready to debut next month. PHOTO: Royden Williams.Next best of Lincoln Farms’ trialists today was the unraced Ferlax three-year-old Lincoln Green who took out a 1200 metre maiden heat.

With four rivals, and Robbie Hannam on his back, Lincoln Green jumped well but Hannam took a hold and made him trail when he started to race too keenly.

“He got a nice run up the inside and quickened nicely in the straight to grab the victory on the line by a nose.

“Robbie said he was quite green when he hit the front but he will learn from that.’’

Lincoln Green ran the 1200 metres in 1:14.69 on the dead 4 track.

Lincoln Green, who has now won two of his four trials, is set to debut at Otaki on April 10 in a maiden over 1400 metres.

“He’s a nice, big staying type of a horse and I’ve looked after him too.

“He’ll need a bit of ground to show his best but he keeps improving.’’

Platinum Bordeaux … really found the line today. PHOTO: Royden Williams.Platinum Bordeaux also pleased Latta with a close second in her two-year-old catchweight heat over 850 metres.

Jockey Dylan Turner sat her just in behind the speed in the six-horse heat and produced her three wide at the top turn.

“She hit the line strongly to be just beaten a head. That should tidy her up nicely but I will wait to see how she comes through the trial before mapping out a race for her.’’

Latta says it’s hard to get a line on just how good the Per Incanto filly is.

“There’s nothing brilliant about her. She just goes about her business.’’

Winner Pablo Esk ran the trip in 51.12.

Platinum Bordeaux, who is not a jump-and-run two-year-old type, beat one home on debut at Otaki last November behind the very smart Whiskey Neat.

The fourth of Lincoln Farms’ starters today, Lincoln’s Secret, was well and truly outclassed in an open 1200 metre catchweight heat won by Latta’s Desert Gold Stakes winner Secret Allure from Lady Style.

The four-year-old, ridden by Zinjete Moki, jumped and led but his condition gave way in the run home and he ran last of the four.

“That was expected as we were just using it as a fitness run. That will tidy him up to head back to the races but we will wait for the fire to come out of the tracks.’’

Lincoln’s Secret has won one of his nine starts but Latta is not sure he has been putting in his best. He last raced at Otaki in January when he led and stopped.

“He’s not a sprinting horses and we will try him over ground. I’ll do a bit of jumping with him too to get his mind on the job.’’

Bulls trainer Bryce Newman also lined up Lincoln Honey for Lincoln Farms in a 1200 metre maiden catchweight heat.

The four-year-old mare, who showed nothing in two starts last year, trailed fourth in the running, moved up three wide to challenge turning for home, but only battled into third, three and a quarter lengths from Rock With Choux.