Latta looking forward to seeing what exciting Lincoln pair can do on Boxing Day

Trainer Lisa Latta brings Lincoln Farms’ two most exciting gallopers, Lincoln Falls and Lincoln Raider, to Ellerslie on Boxing Day realistic enough to know while both have the class to win, they will need plenty of luck.

Lincoln Falls’ biggest hurdle will be his total lack of experience racing right-handed, let alone seeing Ellerslie for the first time, a track that has tripped plenty of first-timers before him.

And Lincoln Raider, while nicely drawn, faces a Dunstan Championship Final field packed with talent, and will be relying on top jock Opie Bosson finding the gaps late in the home straight.

Latta could not be happier with the condition of Lincoln Falls who was completely dominant when winning his last start at Trentham.

The opposition he faces in the fourth race on Wednesday is vastly superior, and includes the runner-up and fourth-placed horses in the 2000 Guineas, Dawn Patrol and In A Twinkling, Hawkes Bay Guineas winner Bobby Dazzler and Bonecrusher placegettter Hypnos, to name but a few.

Lincoln Falls slayed his rivals at Trentham but first look at Ellerslie will be a test. PHOTO: Race Images.But Latta’s biggest concern is how the colt will handle himself around the undulating Ellerslie course.

His only experience galloping right-handed has been in a few trackwork sessions at home, the latest yesterday morning when she was able to use the course proper at Awapuni.

“He galloped really nicely but he wasn’t 100 percent that way, which is normal. He was trying to get out into the middle of the track.

“It’s going to be a good test for him on Wednesday and it’s not a race where you can say with any confidence that he could win. But I really just want to see him do everything right.’’

Latta says the point of her early reconnoitre to Auckland headquarters is to see how the horse handles the track as he is being aimed at the $1 million New Zealand Derby on March 2.

The $60,000 Uncle Remus Stakes is over only 1400 metres and Lincoln Falls has drawn awkwardly in seven but Latta says that could be the place to be if the track is slow - which seems likely with a poor forecast over Christmas.

And Lincoln Falls has already shown that he can sprint very quickly on wet ground, conditions which would hamper many of his rivals.

Three cheers for Opie

Lincoln Raider, likewise, is adept on off tracks, and, unlike Lincoln Falls, has raced right-handed before. After an awkward start at Te Aroha in April, he flew late to be beaten only a head and long head by Le Castile, a rival again on Wednesday, and Sacred Day.

Latta is delighted that Bosson will stick with the horse after his copybook first ride on the horse at Trentham last time, when he timed his finishing run to perfection, catching Jessiegee close to the post to win by a long neck.

Latta will instruct Bosson not to change the riding style of the late-charging horse despite having drawn in gate three.

Opie Bosson times his run to perfection at Trentham with the progressive Lincoln Raider. PHOTO: Race Images.And it’s there, even with Bosson’s skill, that Lincoln Raider will need luck.

“He’ll go back and look to find runs through them,’’ says Latta.

“He’s pretty professional so if Opie can get him clear, the horse will do the rest.’’

Coming from the back at Ellerslie, however, is a vastly different proposition than at Trentham where the much longer straight suits back runners.

But countering that is the rare finishing power Lincoln Raider has already revealed, a talent Latta says she identified quite early in his career.

“He’s always shown a lot and we’ve just given him the time he needed to mature.

“But this is premier day, and its a strong Dunstan Final, so he’ll need everything to go right.’’

Princess Amelie … fast horse on reconnaissance mission to Ellerslie. PHOTO: Race Images.Princess to plant foot and hope for luck

Latta’s third Ellerslie rep, Princess Amelie, comes to Auckland with a terrific trial win at Waverley under her belt. But she will need to be at her very best in the rating 72 fifth race against older horses.

Princess Amelie jumped fast in her trial on December 10 and sat outside the leader Danmulan before taking the lead turning for home.

Held together in the run home by rider Robbie Hannam, she got home by half a head, staving off late challenges by the talented gallopers William Wallace and Scapolo in a slick 58.66.

Latta kept the blinkers up her sleeve that day but will fit them on Wednesday, which will help the filly streak out of the gates.

“She has drawn one from the outside which makes her task difficult with a lot of speed in the race. But with some luck, hopefully she can slot in somewhere behind or near the lead.

“She’s not a filly you can go back on, not with her gate speed.’’

Latta says it’s a big ask taking on the older horses with the three-year-old but the experience will set her up nicely for her main target, the $70,000 Mongolian Khan Trophy, a 1200 metre sprint against her own age group, at Ellerslie on Magic Millions night, January 26.