Fast and furious - 1000 metre dash on Wellington Cup day next for Lincoln’s Kruz

No prizes for guessing that trainer Lisa Latta has found another 1000 metre race for Lincoln’s Kruz later this month.

The impressive black gelding made it two starts for two wins over 1000 metres at Tauherenikau when he exploded clear of his rivals close to home yesterday to easily beat Hold The Press and Casaquinman.

No time was recorded for the race but the maidens on the day clocked 56.16 and the two-year-olds 55.74 so it must have been swift.

The win, his fourth from 25 starts, earned $6720 and took his career tally to $50,331, but he’ll now get a shot at some serious money on Wellington Cup day, January 29.

Latta will set Lincoln’s Kruz for a $50,000 rating 74 event over 1000 metres, with a winner’s purse of $28,750, having proven the short course dash is what he excels at.

“They run along more over 1000 metres, and he gets off the bit, which really helps him as he can get up and travelling a bit keenly.”

Drawing one and having only five rivals on Sunday also helped the gelding as he didn’t get too far off the leaders, she said.

Lincoln’s Kruz and Lisa Allpress have Hold The Press well covered at Tauherenikau. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.Confidently tipped by Latta, after being untested when blocked at his last start, Lincoln’s Kruz is much more settled and holding his form well this campaign with two wins and a second in just six starts.

“He’s definitely a lot stronger as a five-year-old. He’s carrying his condition a lot better and not lightening off after his races like he used to.”

Latta said the stable is now able to also keep on top of the foot trouble which hampered his earlier preparations - “He’s quite flat-footed.”

The black galloper, who caught the eye of Lincoln Farms’ boss John Street walking around the sale ring at Karaka at the 2018 ready-to-run sale of two-year-olds, has the pedigree to perform at a higher level. By sprint star Kuroshio, his dam, Myskina is a half sister to Group I Oakleigh Plate winner Miss Kournikova.

John and Lynne Street race Lincoln’s Kruz with their business manager Ian Middleton, Jeff and Vicky Roach, Peter and Bridget Morris and Sue Croft and Steve Haylock.