Coasters raise a glass to Sir Lincoln after he sires two winners at Westport
By Barry Lichter • 26 December 2019
Sir Lincoln was the toast of the locals in Westport tonight after two of his daughters Golden Lace and Malinka won at their local meeting.
The two coasters were the only ones to repel the visitors on the opening day of the popular holiday grass track circuit, three-year-old filly Golden Lace especially impressive scoring on debut.
Three wide to the bell, then lucky to nip in behind the leader when Nizzarda Franco broke, Golden Lace sprinted sharply up the passing lane for driver Blair Orange to score by neck.
The win was the first for Westport trainer Rodney Dickson for nearly three years but didn’t come as a surprise.
“She had me fooled originally,” said Dickson. “I didn’t think much of her when she was working but as soon as I took her to the trials it was different.
“She’d had five public appearances before today - two workouts and three trials - and won them all so I thought she’d go well.”
Dickson bred Golden Lace from his one-win mare Mozart Lace, buying a service to Sir Lincoln from the Westport club after it was gifted in a promotion by Alabar Stud.
And he wasn’t disappointed with the result.
“She has a very strong shoulder and a big neck for a filly and while she’s not the prettiest horse with a bit of a sway back and roman nose, she’s got the right attitude.
“I’ll probably start her next at Reefton (December 30) but I reckon she’ll go even better on the all weather and I might have to send her up to my my son Scott at Manawatu - she’d love that track.”
Malinka, who broke maidens at her 14th start for trainer Trevor Walsh, also turned in a tough run, coming from third last at the 800 metre mark with a sweeping run four wide to score by one and a quarter lengths.
The four-year-old is also out of a one win mare in Chloe Finn.
Malinka is down to start again at Westport on Saturday, drawn the inside of the second row in the sixth race.
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Sir Lincoln Top 10
Did you know…
1. CUP DAY BIRTH: It was preordained Sir Lincoln would be a headliner when he was born just hours before the 2006 New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington. Three years later to the day, and almost the hour, he annihilated his rivals on the same course in the Sires’ Stakes Final.
2. AGE NO BARRIER: In his second last race start, at the age of six, Sir Lincoln paced the fastest 1700 metres in New Zealand history, 2:00.5, beating Gold Ace and clocking a mile rate of 1:54 at Alexandra Park. Champion pacer Elsu held the previous record at 2:01.1.
3. ON THREE LEGS: Sir Lincoln ran his last race virtually on three legs, when second to Terror To Love in an Interdominion heat at Auckland. He had to be pulled out of the Melbourne series, and retired, when found to have a subluxated pastern joint - basically his ankle joint was dislocated.
4. SWIFT GOLDEN MILE: Sir Lincoln’s fastest mile was recorded in the 2012 Group III Golden Mile at Menangle in Sydney when he was nosed out by Captain Joy in 1:51.4. He was known by the name Lincoln Royal in Australia.
5. AT THE REINS: One for the trivia fans - how many drivers did Sir Lincoln have in his 57-start career? Maurice McKendry was Linc’s pilot throughout his career but he was MIA four times when the horse was handled by James Stormont, Ken Barron and Blake Fitzpatrick (twice).
6. WINNERS KEEP COMING: In only his third season with runners on the track, Sir Lincoln has already sired the winners of 30 races despite having limited numbers to represent him. Last season in New Zealand alone he had 16 winners from only 39 starters and this term he already has six winners from just 18 starters.
7. SOMEBEACH SOME RAP: Breeding buffs made a beeline for Sir Lincoln after superstar racehorse and stallion Somebeachsomewhere had to be put down with cancer. Sir Lincoln is 7/8th bred on the same cross as Somebeachsomewhere - by Mach Three out of a Beach Towel mare who is in turn out of a Cam Fella mare.
8. DISCOUNT FOR LOYALTY: Broodmare owners are returning to Sir Lincoln in droves. Taken by the attractive foals he is leaving, many book straight back to the Alabar-based sire and take advantage of Lincoln Farms’ loyalty scheme which cuts his service fee in half to just $1250 plus GST.
9. TIME BEST FRIEND: Sir Lincoln’s progeny are mirroring the sire’s own start on the racetrack, benefitting from a little time to mature. The best the horse himself could manage as a two-year-old was one third from four starts but he was a different animal at three, winning four of his first five starts.
10. MEGASTAR’S FREAK DEATH: A freak accident claimed the life of valuable broodmare Lincoln’s Megastar, a full sister to Sir Lincoln. The mare, who opened her career with a nine and a half length walloping at Auckland, was retired after six wins, but left only one foal. She was killed when crushed by a fallen tree in a violent storm. Woodlands Stud has another full sister in two-year-old Moonlighting who is in training with Ray Green.