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.‘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 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.