Sweet Lou colt Lincoln Lou has earned a break.
Lincoln Lou coming home for a break but remaining trio headed to Ashburton features
By Barry Lichter • 16 October 2024
Lincoln Lou is coming home to rest up after bashing his knee in the Two-Year-Old Harness Million.
Lincoln Farms’ speedy colt disputed the early lead in the $200,000 feature at Addington last Friday night and was handy in the running when he broke entering the home straight on the first lap and galloped his way back to the rear.
Lincoln Lou had to be steadied when he paced roughly again 850 metres out and he finished last, 25 lengths from the winner Marketplace.
The uncharacteristic performance was explained immediately afterwards when driver Sam Thornley told Green the colt had hit his knee.
“I’ve no idea why it’s suddenly become a problem,” Green said. “But something strange has happened to make him hammer his knee.
“He has a bit of fill in the knee, it’s not too bad, but I’d hate him to do it again while it’s like this so he can go home and have a month off.
“He hasn’t had a decent break and he’s a great little horse so I want to do the right thing by him.”
Green said Lincoln Lou’s action would be monitored when he resumed work and, if necessary, he would be fitted with spreaders.
The remaining three of Lincoln Farms’ southern team have pleased since their campaign openers at Addington and will progress to Ashburton on Monday week.
The Big Lebowski advanced his cup ranking from 35 to 32 with his all-the-way domination but will need to win or place in the $60,000 Flying Stakes to have any chance of making the 15-horse cut.
“He’s a beautiful big horse who glides along and covers the ground, loping along as if it’s nothing. John Morrison said he could have gone another lap the other night.”
Sugar Ray Lincoln, who made good ground in the Two-Year-Old Harness Million for sixth, will contest the final Sires’ Stakes heat at Ashburton while Green will make a late payment to get Frisco Bay into the $50,000 Sires’ Stakes Sophomore Classic (mobile 1700m) for three-year-olds.
Frisco Bay caught the eye last Friday with his late run for a close third behind the highly regarded Renegade, recording the fastest closing sectionals of 56.05 and 26.84.
More news in Harness
Hubby nearly in the dog box after Tyson delivers Debbie a Golden Gait knockout blow
Debbie lands Golden draw at last in her bid to give Sampson a haircut at the Park
Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.22pm
“She got home really well on the second night at Manawatu and gets a good draw here. There’s not much exposed form in the race so it’s hard to know how she compares but she’ll win one.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Debbie Lincoln
7.01pm
“I thought she went super again last week with no luck and we’ve got a decent draw for a change so you have to like her chances. She’s been getting in on the corners, so we’ve added a Murphy blind.”
Race 3: Tyson
7.01pm
“I was impressed by the way he hung on to Captain Sampson and Greased Lightnin last week. They’re strong sprinters and it was only a sprint up the straight. He’ll need things to go his way from six.”
Race 3: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.01pm
“It was his first run for a while last week and he probably needed another trial. But we thought we might as well race him to set him up for this week. The outside draw of eight doesn’t help.”
Race 9: Lincoln Lover
9.55pm
“He’s not as sharp as our other two but he’s a game little bugger. He’ll win races for sure.”
Race 9: Prince Lincoln
9.55pm
“I thought he went really well last week. He’d had only one trial and was a bit fresh so it was understandable that he got tired the last bit. That will tighten him up and I’m expecting him to race well. He’s trained on well since.”
Race 9: Johnny Lincoln
9.55pm
“Prince has the wood on Johnny but he’ll still go well. He found the line well last week. It was his first run for a while too, and his first as a gelding.”
