Glenthorne likes to run hard in front - just like his sire Sir Lincoln and relative Locharburn
By Barry Lichter • 15 April 2019
It was fitting that Sir Lincoln three-year-old Glenthorne broke a 19 month drought for Canterbury trainer Kevin Chapman when he broke his rivals’ hearts at Rangiora on Sunday.
In a style reminiscent of pacing great Sir Lincoln and Chapman’s former iron pacer Locharburn, the youngster destroyed his rivals with a fast pacemaking performance.
And when he crossed the line five and a half lengths in front, with his opposition spread out like Brown’s cows, Chapman couldn’t help but think of Locharburn whom he has just retired.
The 2014 New Zealand Derby winner, who was injury plagued, winning 14 of his only 39 starts and $418,000, last raced in the New Zealand Cup in November.
But he’d since been over to Australia where trainers Shane and Lauren Tritton tried to resurrect his career, only to see him re-injure a suspensory after running second in a 1:52.7 trial at Menangle.
It’s hardly a coincidence that Glenthorne, related to Chapman’s best horse, thrives on similar strength sapping speed.
Kevin Chapman with Locharburn who he has retired after yet another injury. He and Glenthorne are related.“He’s not unlike Locharburn in that he likes a high tempo,’’ says Chapman.
“I didn’t give Tim (Williams) any instructions on Sunday but I said he wasn’t being driven hard enough.
“They ran out of the gate, then Blair attacked (on Valiant Charger who was eventually pulled up) and they tell me he ran his first half in a minute. He kept rolling and the others were on their knees at the 400.’’
Glenthorne ran the 2600 metre mobile in 3:18.2, a mile rate of 2:02.6, the slow closing sectionals of 63.7 and 31.9 an indication of how draining the early speed was.
It was Glenthorne’s first win in 10 starts - Chapman thought he’d get it in half the time but he ran into some strong fields as he chased a decent winning purse, racking up four seconds.
“He should have won his previous start - he missed away, was five back on the fence, got held up, and was giving the winner five lengths at the quarter.
“He’s actually never gone a bad race even when he’s been beaten.
“He’s such a genuine horse, who doesn’t do anything wrong and always tries hard. He’s strengthened up this year and just kept improving and he’ll win a few more races for sure. He’s got a bit of gate speed and can put himself in a handy position, and that’s a big thing these days.
“They’ll have a lot of fun with him.’’
‘They’ are Chapman’s son Jared and his 13 mates, 12 of whom have never raced a horse before.
“I actually bought the horse on spec myself because his mum and Locharburn’s mum are half sisters. I thought he was a nice type and I didn’t mind that he was by Sir Lincoln either - he was a good racehorse.
“I got him cheap, for $5000, because he has a club foot but it doesn’t worry him.
“Jared took him off me though - he said he’d put a team of mates together to race him.’’
One of the syndicate, David Hickman, was nearly banned from going to the races - when Glenthorne won on Sunday it was the first time he’d been on course to see one of his horses win for 21 years.
* Sir Lincoln struck twice at Rangiora with Robert Dunn’s improving mare Onedin Reign downing a strong line-up in the rating 56 to 86 event.
The Alabar-based sire also notched another winner at Manawatu last Thursday with Uncle Drew.
More news in Sir Lincoln
Sir Lincoln itching to get out and explore his new home in Tasmania
Coasters raise a glass to Sir Lincoln after he sires two winners at Westport
You’ve got to love ‘Herbie’ - Gerard says with his attitude comes more than a VW motor
Bundoran does Sir Lincoln proud on debut - but the vultures are already circling
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.