Back to day racing over a mile, Al’s confident we’ll see the real Lincoln’s Girl on Tuesday
By Barry Lichter • 5 August 2019
Forget the form line, Lincoln’s Girl is a strong winning chance back to her own grade at Albion Park on Tuesday.
And just as importantly as the huge drop in class, is the fact the speedy filly returns to mile racing - during the day.
Though she runs in the final race at 6.21pm local time, it will still be light, the most crucial factor for Lincoln’s Girl, says trainer Al Barnes.
“She’s very highly hung and just seems to go to pieces under lights when the atmosphere is a bit different.
“Nerves get to her and she pulls too hard and chokes down.
“Her half brother Lincoln Road was the same, he really struggled at night when he first came over. The mare seems to breed hot types.”
Barnes says Lincoln’s Girl will eventually get used to it the more she goes round but at the moment the key to her is finding day races over 1660 metres.
Lincoln’s Girl (Hayden Barnes) clocking 1:53.3 at Albion Park in May. PHOTO: Dan Costello.In her last two starts Lincoln’s Girl was out of her comfort zone tackling the best company over 2138 metres in the Queensland Oaks and South East Oaks.
And even though she had her preferred 1660 metre distance in the two starts before that it was again in far stronger company in the heats and final of the Rising Stars.
On Tuesday she reverts to a rating 50 to 55 event and goes in as equal top rater, along with Ask Me and Havana Moon.
While drawn three on the second line, Lincoln’s Girl showed she could overcome that in a trial last Tuesday when she came three wide from the back to find the chair before forging to the front 800 metres from home and beating nine-race winner Bettor Vision comfortably in a 1:55.8 mile rate.
“She’s done well since the trial and I’m confident she’ll be very competitive. She’ll show how good she is.
“How many three-year-old fillies can run 1:53.3 over a mile, sitting in the chair, and do it comfortably?
“I’m surprised she hasn’t sold already given what she’s done but she’ll get back into consistent form again - and then the price will go up!”
Lincoln’s Girl was the seventh highest stake earner for Lincoln Farms in the season just ended, banking $21,127 from four wins.
Lincoln’s Girl races at 8.21pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
More news in Harness
Brace for Ray and Lincoln Farms at Cambridge but Colonel’s placing just as thrilling
Ray: Preferential draw for top fillies makes it tough for everyone else in Golden Gait series
Patient owners hoping high-priced Colonel can salute at Cambridge on Thursday night
Friday’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup all about the standing start manners of Aussie raider
Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”
