Lincoln Grace debuts on Sunday - the last chance to get a good one out of $400,000 mare

Lincoln Farms owners John and Lynne Street have their fingers crossed that Lincoln Grace ($3.10) can convert her smart recent trial win into raceday succees, starting at Awapuni on Sunday.

The four-year-old is the eighth foal out of their richly bred Zabeel mare Jessie Street, who cost $400,000 as a yearling in 2009, her dam St Jessie the winner of seven races and from a very successful family.

Jessie Street, sadly, bowed a tendon after only four starts and none of her progeny so far have amounted to much, the enigmatic Almo Street winning two races and Louie Lincoln and Lincoln Lover one each.

Trainer Lisa Latta says it’s too soon to know yet just how good Lincoln Grace is but the signs are promising for her debut this weekend on the synthetic track where she won her trial on September 3.

“It was great to see her win so easily on the synthetic and she has certainly taken a lot of confidence from it. But it’s hard to get a line on her - you’re not up against much at the trials.”

Lincoln Grace … flies the gate and has drawn the inside on Sunday.Lincoln Grace, who is by 2022-23 champion first-season sire U S Navy Flag, led in her first trial back on August 22 but weakened to last of five behind Sunday’s race rival Poppy’s Girl, Latta blaming the extra condition she was carrying rather than the heavy track.

When the mare next trialled over 1000 metres at Awapuni, Latta wanted Chris Dell to ride her a touch quieter in behind but Lincoln Grace jumped fast and raced too keenly, ending up three wide on the pace.

Despite that she still gathered in her rivals to win by one and a quarter lengths, Dell saying “she put them to bed pretty easily.

“She flies the gate, has a nice turn of foot when held up for a run, and has a lot of upside,” Dell said.

Latta likes the fact Lincoln Grace has drawn one on Sunday - “she’ll get her chance from there” - and that Dell has been riding the synthetic very well lately.

The Central Districts jockey is just out of his best season, having ridden 39 winners last term for stakes of $1.17 million.

“She’s taken a bit of time to come to it but I am excited to get her to the races and I expect her to improve on anything she does on Sunday.”

Lincoln Towers scores an easy win on the synthetic track at Awapuni on July 5. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.Latta is expecting an improved run from Lincoln Towers, who meets a small field in the eighth race.

An easy winner two starts back on the synthetic track he raced poorly at his next start there on July 24, all done on the home turn.

“It was an extremely disappointing run but he did take a little while to get over it and his bloods weren’t 100%.

“His work on Tuesday morning was sharp, he looks great, and he seems bright and happy.

“Jonathan Riddell will need some luck from the wide draw and, if he gets it, I am hoping he can bounce back.”