Kamanda Lincoln to chase start in Wellington Cup after courageous staying win at Riccarton

Kamanda Lincoln was today nominated for the Wellington Cup, his courageous staying effort at Riccarton last Saturday ample evidence he should stay the 3200 metres.

The $250,000 Trentham feature on January 19 is one of two options trainer Lisa Latta has for the tough five-year-old who is already among the entries for the $500,000 Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on March 9.

Kamanda Lincoln will need to continue to lift his rating points to secure a berth, but the seven points he earned by winning at Riccarton will be a big help.

When Kamanda Lincoln tackled the Cashmere Estate over 2500 metres last Saturday he was the lowest rated horse, on 63 points, in a rating 82 event. But it made no difference as he comprehensively outstayed Taxihome, Abacus and Yamato Nadeshiko.

In a dour battle over the last 250 metres, when the four horses were lined across the track, it was Kamanda Lincoln who came out on top, top jockey Sam Collett driving him to the line to score by half a length.

Kamanda Lincoln is too strong for Taxihome, inner, and Abacus at Riccarton on Saturday. PHOTO: AJ Berry/Race Images.“It was a good effort,’’ says Latta. “I was bit worried about backing him up that quickly, and he had lightened up a bit from the Wednesday run, but he was still too good for them.

“He’s a very tough horse who should be really suited by 3200 metres.’’

By champion staying sire Savabeel, Kamanda Lincoln has the pedigree to stay. Bred by Rosemont Stud, near Geelong in Victoria, he is out of the imported Sadler’s Wells mare Our Careyes, who is a three-quarter sister to top sire High Chaparral.

She has left staying winners all over the world - in England, Ireland, the United States, Morocco and Peru, but sadly died just six months after Lincoln Farms bought Kamanda Lincoln for $150,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock premier sale at Karaka in January, 2015.

Latta has always rated Kamanda Lincoln a topline stayer in the making and he gave a hint of what was to come in his final run last campaign when fourth in the St Leger (2500m) at Trentham in March.

Ahead of him that day were last Saturday’s New Zealand Cup winner Bizzwinkle and third-placegetter Felaar.

Latta proved to be right on the money with her pre-race explanation about how Kamanda Lincoln’s lead-up form was better than it read on paper and how he would show dramatic improvement from a good barrier draw.

From the two gate in the eight horse field he jumped straight on to the front end, Collett settling him nice and handy in third spot.

“He did over-race a bit early but once he got cover, he came back to her,’’ says Latta.

And this time, instead of being a world away from the leaders, when he mounted his run he was right there on the turn, and never flinched up the straight.

Latta plans to give Kamanda Lincoln 10 days out in the paddock now to recover from the trip before setting him on his cup path.