
Leo Lincoln’s legs go everywhere as he launches himself into the air, spooked by a pile of poo on the track.
Green baby Leo Lincoln scores a 10 out of 10 - but dang that dung nearly cost him
Trainer Ray Green and more specifically driver Andre Poutama marked Leo Lincoln 10 out of 10 at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
But the rating wasn’t just for his all-the-way three and a quarter length drubbing, more the acrobatics he showed just after the mobile gate pulled away at the start.
The plan to lead the four-horse field almost came unstuck when Leo Lincoln spotted a pile of poo on the track - and jumped it.
Incredibly, instead of galloping, he landed still in a pace.
“He went up in the air but I grabbed him straight away and it was lucky he came down pacing,” Poutama said.
The deft footwork belied a horse of such inexperience, Friday night’s race just the 11th for the two-year-old.
Poutama was able to push on the lead but said Leo Lincoln was still green in the run.
Leo Lincoln and Andre Poutama are well in control at the finish.“I had to keep him on the bit, he kept looking at stuff, I don’t know what.
“But he’s definitely better than when he dead-heated (at Cambridge in August). He had a bit of a break in September and has come back a stronger horse.”
After three recent placed runs, which Poutama said had helped give the gelding more confidence, and four scratchings which negated his outside draw, Leo Lincoln was given his chance in front on Friday night and never looked like being caught.
Expected challenges from the Telfer-trained pair Delightful Reality and Carbon never eventuated and he was able to cruise home in 57.7 and 29.
“They only went 2:43.3 but he’s a lazy bugger and only does what he has to,” Green said.
“He’ll win plenty more.”
Part owner Phil Kelly, left, shares a joke with the Mangere Lawn Cemetery race sponsor.That rap will be welcomed by Green’s partners in the Art Major gelding - Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street, their business manager Ian Middleton, Glenn and Ann Cotterill and Phil Kelly.
The $8250 stake the horse win on Friday night took his earnings to $21,550, a handsome bankroll for a horse just clearing the non-winners’ grade.
It was much the kind of start John Street hoped for when he paid $27,000 for Leo Lincoln as a weanling in 2021, his experience with the horse’s dam Alta Valencia’s brother Alta Intrigue all positive.
Lincoln Farms won nearly $100,000 with the consistent Alta Intrigue who, from just 26 starts, won four races and ran 13 placings, including a third in the 2017 Woodlands Northern Derby behind Raukapuka Ruler and Ultimate Machete.
Alta Intrigue was sold for big money a few months later to Western Australia, where he won another 10 races.
More news in Harness
Leo Lincoln close to a win: Watch how he copped it early last time at Manawatu
Consisent little Lincoln Lou sold to Western Australia to join fellow ex-Kiwis
Kevin Kline caps record day for Casey and loyal Lincoln Farms’ team - and can repeat
It’s bon voyage Frisky as Ray celebrates another rags to riches sale success
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

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’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’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.”