Lincoln Falls in cracking gallop but Lisa still likes Platinum Invador to stay the best

A cracking final gallop by Lincoln Falls this morning has only served to further frustrate his connections after he drew off the track for Saturday’s $1 million New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie.

Trainer Lisa Latta was delighted with the classy three-year-old’s work at Awapuni this morning, his gallop the reverse way round on the course proper filmed by a Trackside TV crew.

Accompanied by stablemate and race rival Sir Nate, Lincoln Falls hit out strongly over 1000 metres for rider Kane Smith, with Robbie Hannam aboard Sir Nate.

“Kane was rapt afterwards and said Lincoln Falls settled well and when he asked him to quicken, he did it nicely.’’

Latta said given the first class work she really felt for owners John and Lynne Street who for the second time in a row have been saddled with the impossible 18 alley.

When their classy galloper Lincoln Blue lined up in Gingernuts’ 2017 derby, he jumped from the 18 gate and soon after extinguished his chances by bucking under rider Masa Tanaka.

“We never really got to the bottom of why he did that,’’ says Latta. “He’d never done anything like it before. It could have been that Masa really dug him out of the gates to try to get across and, being a colt, he resented it. Or it could have been the clerk of the course’s grey horse. We just don’t know.’’

Lynne Street says they couldn’t believe it when Lincoln Falls came up with the same marble today, although when the emergencies come out he will move in two places to 16.

From there Latta says she’ll have little option than to prep rider Johnathan Parkes into trying to get the horse out fast and across the face of the field.

“We can’t go back and be trying to get around them again, he’s shown us he can’t do that.

“The only thing is I’ve watched his last few starts and he just didn’t have that early speed. And if he doesn’t jump he can’t get across.’’

For the last few weeks Latta has been impressing the importance of a good barrier for Lincoln Falls whose ability to see out 2400 metres is in question because of his sheer brilliance.

But put to sleep on the fence, behind the leaders, Latta says Lincoln Falls’ super sprint, albeit a short one, could be decisive.

“He has brilliance and a real turn of foot. It would be nice to see him in the first three or four but I imagine other people will have the same idea.

“We will have to leave it up to Johnathan and hope we are due our turn of luck. But the horse looks fantastic and I have him spot on to run a big race.’’

Platinum Invador powers clear to win at Otaki last week under derby rider Chris Johnson. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race ImagesPlatinum Invador best prospect

The barrier draw has left Latta in no doubt that Lincoln Farms’ second runner Platinum Invador is the best prospect, ahead even of her third starter Sir Nate.

And the reason is simple - “He’s going to stay.’’

Latta doubts there’ll be more than a handful of horses running on at the finish of Saturday’s 2400 metres and the TAB bookies agree, having slashed Platinum Invador’s odds from $14 on Monday to just $8.50 today, framing only four horses under a $12 quote.

But Platinum Invador will be one of them judging by the big finishes he has turned on in his last two middle distance wins at Otaki.

The only slight reservation Latta has is the effect of racing the horse three weeks on end, with two energy sapping trips north.

“It hasn’t been the ideal preparation but he seems to have coped with it.

“We’ve had a bit of rain here this week and the temperature has been cooler which has definitely helped.

“Horses feel better when it’s not stifling hot.’’

Latta says she’s given Platinum Invador a quiet week since his Otaki win and just kept him ticking over.

“I’m rapt with his condition and all we can hope for now is a gun ride from the “Magic Man” Chris Johnson.”

Johnson had zero luck two starts back in the Avondale Guineas on the course when he was buffeted 350 metres out when attempting a gap, was blocked again 100 metres later, and Platinum Invador went to the line untested, still somehow managing to post the third fastest 600 metres in the race of 34.81. Winner Surely Sacred clocked 34.28 and third-placed Vernanme 34.5.

Latta will break up the trip north from Palmerston North, stopping at Te Rapa overnight on Friday.

And somewhere between Hamilton and Auckland she hopes they can pick up a little birdie to be sitting on their shoulder when the gates crash open at 4.55pm.