Hot jock Parkes will fire up Lincoln Fury at Wanganui on Thursday

Two key changes make Lincoln Fury a strong winning chance at Wanganui on Thursday - he will wear blinkers and be ridden by the country’s hottest jock Johnathan Parkes.

Lincoln Fury goes into the fourth race with only moderate looking form but you can make excuses for both his runs this time in:

• At Awapuni on November 24, he took on a $25,000 three-year-old open race against winners - and blew the start.
• And last time on Boxing Day he really struggled in the heavy 10 conditions.

Lincoln Fury … winner in waiting.On Thursday he meets a small field of maiden three-year-olds on a good track and to counteract his laid back nature trainer Lisa Latta has put on a stronger rider and fitted the horse with blinkers to wake him up.

“The blinkers have really sharpened him up,’’ says Latta. “His work was very good on Tuesday morning.’’

Latta really liked the way Lincoln Fury won a couple of jumpouts earlier in his preparation and tipped he would be an early winner.

Parkes is already a big winner this season with 68 wins, leading Lisa Allpress in the premiership by three wins, and clear of last year’s winner Samantha Collett and Matthew Cameron on 47.

With seven months of the season still to run, and a regular stream of winners each week, he will smash his previous season tally of 78.

Master Lincoln … much better than his form suggests.Parkes could also be all Master Lincoln needs to show his true worth in the sixth race.

He strikes a small field of eight, mostly devoid of form, and also impressed Latta with the way he galloped on Tuesday.

“His last two runs have been disappointing but he’s really improved.’’

Latta says to put a line through Master Lincoln’s last start eighth at Waipukurau on December 9.

“He just wasn’t himself that day and didn’t pull up well at all. It was a very hot day, with no breeze, and he was acting weird on the day. The heat can do that to some horses.’’

Master Lincoln’s 12th of 13 first-up was also not indicative of his true ability.

The horse hated the slow ground and was a clear last under a ride early. A beautiful moving horse, Latta says he should relish the good conditions on Thursday and get every chance from the inside gate.

“I am expecting a much improved effort.’’