Lincoln King (Sam Collett) strides out at Ellerslie last start. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
Nothing worries cruisy Lincoln King and Stephen is pretty chilled about Te Rapa too
By Barry Lichter • 12 December 2019
The bookies like Lincoln King at Te Rapa on Saturday, opening him a $4 favourite for the sixth race despite his top weight and extreme outside draw.
But while trainer Stephen Marsh is expecting another good run from Lincoln Farms’ rapidly improving stayer he says Saturday’s race is all about preparing him for the $100,000 Dunstan Stayers’ Championship (2400m) at Ellerslie on January 31.
“We haven’t targetted this race, it’s to fit him for the Final, so we get him as good as we can for January 1.
“And he should be spot on after this run.”
Marsh says he’s not too worried about Lincoln King drawing gate 14.
“He wouldn’t know a good draw if he saw it - he just can’t get a barrier - all it means is he’s going to get back a bit.
“And I’m not worried about the 60kg either. He’s a big, strong boy who seems to be able to carry weight.
“In fact he doesn’t seem to worry about much at all.”
Lincoln King also showed he could handle firmer ground when he powered home late to win over 2100 metres at Ellerslie last start, catching Kya Khoob Lagti Ho, a rival again on Saturday.
“Te Rapa is never flint hard anyway with its sand base. Some horses don’t like the kick back there, and he may be one of them, but we know he loves Ellerslie and that’s where the main event is run.”
With regular rider Sam Collett competing in Australia this weekend, Danielle Johnson takes the mount, and Marsh says she won’t have any trouble getting on with the horse.
“He’s not hard to ride and he should be getting over the top of them late over 2400 metres.”
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Lisa’s comments
Friday at Awapuni
Race 8: Lincoln Towers
4.53pm
“He needs two more scratchings to make the field and, because it’s the first day back racing at Awapuni and they’re running only 12 horses, that looks doubtful. I decided to run him over 1400 metres as I think leaving him at 1200 wouldn’t be the right thing to do. He has continued to work well and had a really nice gallop on the course proper this week.”
Stephen’s comments
Saturday at Te Rapa
Race 7: Billy Lincoln
3.37pm
“He’s bounced out of his trial (third on the Cambridge synthetic) very well and it’s time to kick him off. I wouldn’t expect him to win at 1200 metres but it will bring him on nicely. Then we’ll step him up to a more suitable 1400 and second-up he can be very competitive. Rihaan Goyaram rides and claims 3kg down to 53.5kg.”