Leo Lincoln returns to scale at Cambridge, the 300th driving win for Andre Poutama. PHOTO: Ange Bridson.
Cambridge dead-heat gives Andre his 300 and more time for brave Leo Lincoln to furnish
By Barry Lichter • 11 August 2023
Even driver Andre Poutama thought he’d been beaten when Leo Lincoln and Cassius Clyde hit the line locked together at Cambridge on Thursday night.
Looking acoss at the Steve and Amanda Telfer-trained hulk, Poutama feared he’d been nosed out of a brave front-running win.
But the photo finish camera revealed a dead-heat - great for both driver and horse.
For Poutama, it marked a milestone 300 wins in the cart, in his seventh season as an open driver.
For Leo Lincoln it was a pleasant brake on his advance up the ratings - under the rules he will remain a maiden.
It was just Leo’s fourth race night start and Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green believes it won’t hurt him to be able to get further experience in the lower grade while he continues to hone his craft.
“Dead-heating was a good result for him,” Green said. “And if he can contiunue to improve in the coming weeks I’d be very happy.
“He was a bit gormless when he started, slow on the uptake. But he’s starting to come to it and he’s been training down well in the last couple of months.”
Cassius Clyde ranges alongside Leo Lincoln, inner, close to home. PHOTO: Ange Bridson.Not that Green ever doubted Leo Lincoln’s ability.
“He’s got plenty of speed and I took a share in him myself because he was training so well.
“He just needs to get a bit stronger to be really effective.”
An Art Major gelding of average size, Leo Lincoln still showed plenty of guts to dead-heat on Thursday night.
Burned off the gate to cross Messenger Buoy rounding the first turn, Leo Lincoln looked to be in for a comfortable win when he shot two lengths clear into the home straight.
But, despite veering a little wide when mounting his challenge, the favourite Cassius Clyde powered home to share the honours right on the post.
“Andre thought he’d been beaten but said Leo tried really hard and dug right in up the straight. He thought it was a pretty good run.
“Who knows how far he’ll go? I can’t see him being a Sires Stakes horse at this stage but he’s still improving.”
The dead-heat, in a relatively sedate 2:46 for the mobile 2200 metres, home in 57.9 and 27.9, saw Leo Lincoln earn $4230 for Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street, their business manager Ian Middleton, Glenn Cotterill, his mum Ann and Phil Kelly.
A $27,000 weanling buy at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka 2021 sale, Leo Lincoln hails from the same family as Alta Intrigue who racked up four wins and 10 seconds for Lincoln Farms and was placed in the 2017 Northern Derby behind Raukapuka Ruler and Ultimate Machete before his sale to Western Australia were he won another 10 races.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Debbie Lincoln
5.26pm
“She had to sit parked most of the way last time but still went well, and that’s what she does. She’s proven to be a very promising filly and, while it’s hard these days to win without a good trip, it’s an even field and she’s a good chance again.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lou
5.55pm
“He probably cost himself a win last week by going roughly, but he can do that. If he’d got Frisco Bay’s trip he would have won with his closing quarters of 56 and 27 the fastest in the race. He’s just got to do things right to be the one to beat, even from the bad draw, as it’s an easier field.”
Race 5: Frisco Bay
7.30pm
“He’s up in grade a bit but I don’t think there’s anything between them. He’s just got to get the right run and, with his speed, he’ll be right in it.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.59pm
“He’s no superstar but he’s very honest and he’s always a place chance as he’s a tough bugger, he sat parked last week.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.59pm
“With a similar run to last week, he’d be right in it. He clocked 55.8 and 27.7, doing his best work at the finish. He hasn’t gone a bad race since he’s come back.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.59pm
“I wasn’t expecting him to do anything on debut as he’s a green, young horse. But he went very well so he’s obviously lifted his game for the occasion. And he’s trained on even better so the experience has enhanced him. From the inside he has to be a good chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.59pm
“She’s definitely a better animal left-handed but she was passable right-handed and should go better this time. She’s got some speed.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.59pm
“She’s a nice filly but is behind the others. I don’t expect her to beat anything but she needs the experience.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
8.59pm
“There won’t be any shadows for her to jump this time so she has to be a serious chance. She’d been dominant at the workouts and trials before her debut but didn’t get the chance to show her true worth.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.59pm
“Fergie was quite impressed with him on debut and requested the drive again. He finished on strongly up the lane and should go well again. He just needs some luck from the outside of the gate.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 3: Argyle
9.04pm NZ time
“I thought his last two starts have been terrific. There’s no doubt this race is tougher, and he has trickier draw, but I was talking to Angus last night and he was quite upbeat about his chances. He said the horse gave him a good feel when he sat parked two starts back and he picked him too (in the draft). But it won’t be easy. There could be a bit of pressure early. I think he’ll come out and see what unfolds and, if there is too much pressure, he’ll drive him quietly.”
Ray’s comments
Sunday at Manawatu
Race 1: Onyx Shard
5.29pm
“You can put a line through her last run at Cambridge when she pulled up showing signs of a respiratory infection. She had a couple of weeks off after that and, while she hasn’t trialled since, she’s been training down nicely. She’s a nice filly and from the good draw should really win.”
Race 3: Lincoln La Moose
6.19pm
“He wasn’t far away in the amateur race at Auckland last time despite jumping a shadow early and galloping. This is a decent drop in class for him and he should be very competitive.
