Cambridge lost its Jewels day but is shoring up stakes for its remaining five meetings of the season.
Cambridge tops up stakes to $7500 for the rest of the season and retains incentives
By Barry Lichter • 12 May 2020
Waikato-Bay of Plenty Harness will top up all stakes for the rest of the season to $7500, barring amateur races which will be run for $7000.
Under the recently released funding model, Cambridge has been allocated $7200 per race, but President Graham Bowen says the club believes setting a flat stake is the fairest way of returning the maximum amount to industry participants.
Graham Bowen … fairest way.The revised stake will also reflect the new rating points matrix whose lower stake threshold is to be set at $7500.
Cambridge will continue paying the incentive payment of $1750 to the connections of horses who win twice on the track during the season, providing they had already won before lockdown.
The $10,000 Dunstan Horse of the Year Series will continue. The owners of the horse with the highest points after the last meeting of the season will receive $4000 and the trainer a $3000 product prize. The trainer of the horse with the next most points will win a $2000 product prize and the trainer of third, a $1000 product prize.
Points leaders are: Lovely Bundy (24), Lukyanova (22), American Me and Flying Steps (19), Jingles Bromac (18), Still Eyre and Delson (17).
The club has five dates until the end of the season with its first an eight-race programme starting at noon on Sunday, May 31.
More news in Harness
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Bang! Lincoln Wave’s tyre blows out, startling rival drivers but Alabar win would shock more
Cheapies The Night Fox and Lincoln Maree keep the tally ticking over at Cambridge
Our runners this week
Friday night at Auckland
Sammy Lincoln, Prince Lincoln, Lincoln Wave, Leo Lincoln, Jessie Lincoln (scratched).
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
