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Commander Lincoln wins a slug-fest for Andrew Sharpe to score his second win at Cambridge. PHOTO: Ange Bridson/Race Images.

Brace for Ray and Lincoln Farms at Cambridge but Colonel’s placing just as thrilling

On a night when he trained two winners at Cambridge for Lincoln Farms, trainer Ray Green got the most satisfaction from another who came up a couple of metres short.

The adrenalin was running high when first stable battler Commander Lincoln scored his first win for 21 months then Lincoln La Moose sprinted fast from the trail to streak past hot favourite Katies Princess fresh-up.

But when Colonel Lincoln sprung out from the one-one to issue a home stretch challenge in the sixth race, momentarily looking like he’d run down pacemaking Always B Charlie, Green got his biggest buzz.

It was the $200,000 sale-topping colt’s first race for 21 months and a lot of hours had gone into getting him back after two tendon injuries.

“I thought he went very well,” Green said of Colonel Lincoln’s three-quarters of a length second. “He probably flattened out a bit close to home, which was to be expected, but hopefully he’ll go on with it now.

“I’d like him to have won but he should pull up well and we’ll go again with him at Cambridge on Tuesday in the junior drivers’ race, which is penalty free.”

Green said Colonel Lincoln had always been a nice horse. “He’s gone some tough races in his time and he’s a lot stronger now and his tendons are holding up well.

“He has a good attitude and motor and if he had a bit more speed he’d be a really good horse.”

Commander Lincoln credited Andrew Sharpe with his third amateur race win this year.Commander Lincoln credited Andrew Sharpe with his third amateur race win this year.‘He just tries so hard’

That’s not something Green has ever said about Commander Lincoln, the only one of his quartet tonight that he didn’t think could win.

“He has no speed, he just tries so hard. That’s all he’s got going for him.”

Green admits he had mixed feelings when the four-year-old and the stable’s Andrew Sharpe claimed a head win over Medina Magic, fearing his rise in the ratings would see him lose his competitiveness.

“But he was only an R35 tonight so he’ll still be eligible for the amateur races.

“The way the race was run tonight suited him, it became a slug-fest and he was the best slugger.”

With a mile rate of only 2:00.7, the closing sectionals were a pedestrian 62.7 and 30.6.

“He’ll keep running placings. He hardly ever misses a cheque. He’s costing us nothing so in that sense he’s a good horse, paying his way.”

Commander Lincoln, who credited Sharpe with his third amateur win this year, actually scored on debut in March, 2023, but his owners John and Lynne Street, the Excell Syndicate, the Jaming Syndicate, Patt Gubb, Lance Myocevich, Steve Beckett, Kevin Bell, Margaret Rabbitt and the Athenry Syndicate had to wait 21 months and 31 more starts to claim win number two.

But during that time he ran in the first five 19 times, doing enough to keep them interested.

Lincoln La Moose and Zachary Butcher sprint fast to race past Katies Princess. PHOTO: Ange Bridson/Race Images.Lincoln La Moose and Zachary Butcher sprint fast to race past Katies Princess. PHOTO: Ange Bridson/Race Images.Lincoln La Moose didn’t keep his group of owners waiting so long. Also a debut winner at Cambridge in March, 2024, he scored his second win at his 12th start tonight.

But it’s fair to say the Streets, Ian Middleton, the Green Machine Racing Syndicate, Glenn and Ann Cotterill and the Red and Blue Syndicate also had their frustrations watching the Art Major gelding pace roughly and make mistakes.

“He could plait his legs before, but he seems a lot more stable now. He trained very well during the week, the best I’ve ever felt him.

“I’m hoping he’s matured. He was a monster tonight, he had too much speed for them and really flew.

“He seems to go better left-handed and, even though he moves up a grade now, I’m hoping he’ll go on with it.”

Green also gave a good pass mark to the fourth member of the Cambridge troop tonight, Onyx Shard battling bravely for fourth after sitting parked most of the way.

The only one of the quartert not expect to back up on Christmas Eve is Commander Lincoln.

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Ray Green

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 Green

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.”

Dan Costello Race Photography