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Frankie Major is comfortably holding Throwyaarmsaroundme at the finish. PHOTO: Megan Liefting./Race Images.

Frankie electric off the gate to take Magness Benrow spoils in the slush at the Park

Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street were delighted to close out the harness racing season with a win by Frankie Major at Auckland tonight.

It was Frankie Major’s third win of the season for the stable - second only to Lincoln River’s 2023 haul of four - and came, appropriately, in the Magness Benrow Pace.

“I’m rapt we won this race because it’s sponsored by John Magness whom I have admired for years as a businessman,” John Street said. “He’s 78 and a legend.”

The architect of the win, the 29th harness success of the year for Lincoln Farms - including six in Australia - was undoubtedly Alexandra Park’s leading reinsman Zachary Butcher.

Owner John Street, right, thanks sponsor John Magness, left, after Frankie Major’s win.Owner John Street, right, thanks sponsor John Magness, left, after Frankie Major’s win.Trainer Ray Green revealed it was Butcher who suggested an aggressive gate drive in the heavy, rain-affected going, despite his six alley.

“Zac said we should have a dab for the front. He got there easily and kicked sand in their faces.”

From the cockpit, Butcher rated the Art Major three-year-old to perfection and held out a home stretch challenge from the favourite Throwyaarmsaroundme by a length, having only to run closing sectionals of 59.6 and 30.8 for an overall time of 2:43.9 for the 2200 metres.

It was Butcher’s fourth win on the colt and his sixth in all, which, along with nine seconds and three thirds boosted his stake earnings to $86,200.

“He’s always been a nice little horse,” said Green of the $60,000 2021 Christchurch yearling buy.

“He was a standout when we got him going, because he was such a natural and did everything right.”

Pipped a nose on his two-year-old debut, Frankie Major butted heads early with some talented age group horses but Green said, on the whole, they’d tried to protect him from the Merlins and Don’t Stop Dreamings of the harness world.

“And he responded by slowly but surely maturing. He just took a while to strengthen but he’s now a versatile tradesman and I knew the wet track wouldn’t worry him.”

Tonight’s win brought to 17 the number of individual pacers who won races for Lincoln Farms this season, the most prolific Lincoln River (four), Frankie Major (three) and Copy That (three).

The undoubted highlight of the season was that by Lincoln River at Alexandra Park in June, when John and Lynne Street brought up their 1000th win as owners. It was their 573rd harness win to go with 427 with gallopers.

Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Nathan Delany

Nathan’s comments

Tuesday twilight at Manawatu

Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.44pm

“Fergie’s drive on Sunday was perfect, you couldn’t ask for better, and he said the horse was doing his best work in the last 50 metres. Maybe with another 100 metres he might have got there. His gate speed is only OK so I can see him getting crossed here.”

Race 5: Kevin Kline
6.19pm

“Fergie said he did it easily on the first day, and the horse only did what he had to. He’s been racing much nicer horses at Auckland so it was good to get the win, hopefully it will boost his confidence. I’ll leave the tactics up to Fergie but I imagine he’ll probably do the same thing again, loop the field and outstay them.”

Race 6: Onyx Shard
6.54pm

“I was hoping she’d drop down a grade. She’s had some tough trips recently, having to do a lot of work, and it didn’t help being three wide for the last lap on the first day. Also they only walked and sprinted home. She could be better coming with one run at them.”

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Friday night at Cambridge

Race 2: Lincoln Lover
5.33pm

“He had no chance last start when trapped three wide all the way. That won’t happen this time from the inside draw so that gives him a chance to get some of it.”

Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.33pm

“He’s shown no gate speed so the wide draw doesn’t matter. He’s coming along all right but will need lots of luck against the hot pots.”

Race 5: Debbie Lincoln
6.54pm

“She seems to have overcome her tying-up issue, her bloods are good, and she’s training well again. She could possibly be underdone and the seven draw makes it very hard.”

Race 6: Lincoln Lou
7.20pm

Scratched. Sold to Western Australia.

Ray Green

Ray’s comments

Sunday at Manawatu

Race 1: What’s Up The Hill
3.16pm

“He’s a work in progress. He just needs more practice - you don’t learn much at the trials with only two or three horses. If he trots the whole way, he should be in the money.”

Race 4: Onyx Shard
4.38pm

“We drove her more quietly last time and she finished very well. She got sucked along and did nothing, finishing with plenty of gas in the tank. Ideally she’ll be driven like that again.”

Race 6: Leo Lincoln
5.33pm

“He had his legs taken right out from under him on the first turn last time. He’s racing very well and should be in the money again for sure.”

Race 6: Kevin Kline
5.33pm

“We’ve scratched him. He has an abscess in a foot and is quite tender on it.”

Whales Harness