Hot combo Ace and Lisa looking to do it again with Lincoln’s Kruz at Awapuni on Thursday
By Barry Lichter • 29 May 2024
The potent combination of rider Ace Lawson-Carroll and trainer Lisa Latta should see Lincoln’s Kruz go close to another win on the synthetic track at Awapuni on Thursday.
Lincoln Farms’ showy black notched the seventh win of his career, in his first try on the artificial surface early this month, thanks to a beautiful steer from top rider Lisa Allpress.
But in the same rating 75 grade, Latta has engaged Lawson-Carroll this time to help reduce the seven-year-old’s top weight of 63.5kg.
“Ace’s 2kg claim will bring him down to 61.5kg, which is less than the 62kg he carried last time,” Latta said.
Latta and Lawson-Carroll have been the dream team in the Central Districts in the last few months, combining for six wins, on five different horses.
With wins on Lincoln Falls, Platinum Attack, He’s A Doozy, Lincoln Star (twice) and Belle’s Echo, the 19-year-old has achieved a 13.3% winning rate and, with a 37.8% placing rate from 45 rides, earned $181,598 in stakes for the stable.
And, despite now having lost his 3kg claim, Carroll continues to be a real asset for Latta who describes Shaun and Emma Clotworthy’s apprentice as being well under-rated. She has found five rides for him on Thursday.
Sixth equal on the apprentice premiership this season with 19 wins, Lawson-Carroll gets on the winnngest horse in the last event, Lincon’s Kruz having won seven races to his nearest rival Stonybreck’s five.
And though drawn one from the outside, Latta is tipping a big effort from Lincoln’s Kruz.
“He came through his last-start win in fantastic order and it was good to see him handle the synthetic so well.
“He has continued to work well and, if he gets any sort of luck from the wide draw, I expect him to be hard to beat again.”
It won’t be an easy task, however, with six of his seven rivals having won on synthetic tracks, Stonybreck a three time winner at Cambridge as well as at Awapuni. Te Akau’s four-year-old also has Latta’s number one rider Jonathan Riddell in the saddle.
Lincoln’s Kruz also moves out from his favourite 1000 metre dash, over which he has won five times, to 1200 metres.