Leo Lincoln … “he feels like a good horse.”
Drop in class and draw upgrade points to Leo Lincoln earning a cheque at Cambridge
By Barry Lichter • 8 August 2023
Leo Lincoln looks well placed to earn his first cheque for Lincoln Farms at Cambridge on Thursday night.
While the two-year-old hasn’t flattered in three runs for trainer Ray Green at Auckland, he looks to have an easier assignment in the fifth race for his first visit to the Waikato.
“The drop in class and decent draw makes him a contender,” says Green.
Whereas Leo Lincoln has been handicapped by draws of nine and seven in two of his starts, he gets a significant upgrade to three this week.
“I’m sure he’ll get out OK and, barring bad luck, I’d like to think he can earn a cheque this time.”
Leo Lincoln finished eight lengths from winner Tualou last week, driver Andre Poutama doing a skilled job at negotiating heavy traffic before switching in for a run in the home straight.
“I thought he should have run on a bit better but he was beaten by much better horses than he meets this time.
“I thought he’d have done better by now because he feels like a nice horse but we probably chucked him in the deep end a bit soon.
“He struggled for a while but then he lifted his game almost overnight.”
Green is hoping Leo Lincoln can show the same sort of ability that his close relative Alta Intrigue produced for the stable a few years ago.
His dam Alta Valencia is a half sister to Alta Intrigue who racked up four races and 10 seconds for Green 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.
Lincoln Cove … three wide with no cover for the entire trip last start. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Lincoln Cove (Downbytheseaside - Everlasting Grace), who comes from a prolific Woodlands Stud family himself, has yet to inspire in two runs but as Green points out he hasn’t really had a fair crack yet.
On debut, from an inside second row draw, he was last turning for home and passed three in the run home.
And last start, from seven, he was trapped three wide the entire way, with no cover.
“He’s been inconvenienced each time and from the second line draw he’ll need a bit of luck again.”
Green’s third runner on the night, Beaudiene Rocknroll, has another bad draw (seven) in the eighth race but Green hinted he’d be going foward from seven.
“He doesn’t like it in behind. He likes rolling along. That seems to be how he goes best.
“I’ll leave it to Andre but we’ll probably try to get handy if we can.”
Beaudiene Rocknroll’s best effort in eight starts was at Cambridge in June when he speared to the front from six and cleared out to win by three lengths.
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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.
