Lincoln Skipper hits the passing lane and really finds for trainer-driver Robbie Holmes.
Lincoln Skipper has the motor, it’s just the steering wheel which needs adjusting
By Barry Lichter • 16 December 2018
Once trainer Robbie Holmes corrects Lincoln Skipper’s habit of running out, we could see plenty more wins from the Sir Lincoln three-year-old.
Lincoln Skipper kicked off a great day for the Lincoln Farms owned and Alabar-based sire Sir Lincoln when he roared up the markers to beat the well backed favourite Baker Creek in the second race at Rangiora on Sunday.
It was the first leg of a notable double for Sir Lincoln who was also represented by the four-year-old Onedin Reign, winner of the 10th race.
Holmes has always liked Lincoln Skipper, who began racing only a month ago and was having just his fourth start yesterday.
“He’s still really green and doesn’t know what he’s doing,’’ says Holmes. “He has a few quirky traits, like running out, but he’s getting better with each start.
“Today he wanted to run out in his preliminary and he was on the inside line all the way but when he got clear air in the passing lane he steered as good as gold, really rallied, and found the line.’’
Holmes says the horse will just keep on improving but in the meantime, while he’s working on his steering, he’s likely to keep him to bigger tracks, with Motukarara on December 29 a likely next target.
“He’s not a bad looking horse - Sir Lincoln is leaving some nice types - I don’t mind my other Sir Lincoln either, JR Fulham.
JR Fulham debuted in the fifth race on Sunday, sitting five back before Holmes popped off the markers and sat parked for the last 1800 metres.
While JR Fulham wilted in the home straight (to sixth) he was only 4.6 lengths from the winner Phoenix Arizona.
“It was only his first run and he’s a very big horse so he’s going to get better and better.’’
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Sir Lincoln Top 10
Did you know…
1. CUP DAY BIRTH: It was preordained Sir Lincoln would be a headliner when he was born just hours before the 2006 New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington. Three years later to the day, and almost the hour, he annihilated his rivals on the same course in the Sires’ Stakes Final.
2. AGE NO BARRIER: In his second last race start, at the age of six, Sir Lincoln paced the fastest 1700 metres in New Zealand history, 2:00.5, beating Gold Ace and clocking a mile rate of 1:54 at Alexandra Park. Champion pacer Elsu held the previous record at 2:01.1.
3. ON THREE LEGS: Sir Lincoln ran his last race virtually on three legs, when second to Terror To Love in an Interdominion heat at Auckland. He had to be pulled out of the Melbourne series, and retired, when found to have a subluxated pastern joint - basically his ankle joint was dislocated.
4. SWIFT GOLDEN MILE: Sir Lincoln’s fastest mile was recorded in the 2012 Group III Golden Mile at Menangle in Sydney when he was nosed out by Captain Joy in 1:51.4. He was known by the name Lincoln Royal in Australia.
5. AT THE REINS: One for the trivia fans - how many drivers did Sir Lincoln have in his 57-start career? Maurice McKendry was Linc’s pilot throughout his career but he was MIA four times when the horse was handled by James Stormont, Ken Barron and Blake Fitzpatrick (twice).
6. WINNERS KEEP COMING: In only his third season with runners on the track, Sir Lincoln has already sired the winners of 30 races despite having limited numbers to represent him. Last season in New Zealand alone he had 16 winners from only 39 starters and this term he already has six winners from just 18 starters.
7. SOMEBEACH SOME RAP: Breeding buffs made a beeline for Sir Lincoln after superstar racehorse and stallion Somebeachsomewhere had to be put down with cancer. Sir Lincoln is 7/8th bred on the same cross as Somebeachsomewhere - by Mach Three out of a Beach Towel mare who is in turn out of a Cam Fella mare.
8. DISCOUNT FOR LOYALTY: Broodmare owners are returning to Sir Lincoln in droves. Taken by the attractive foals he is leaving, many book straight back to the Alabar-based sire and take advantage of Lincoln Farms’ loyalty scheme which cuts his service fee in half to just $1250 plus GST.
9. TIME BEST FRIEND: Sir Lincoln’s progeny are mirroring the sire’s own start on the racetrack, benefitting from a little time to mature. The best the horse himself could manage as a two-year-old was one third from four starts but he was a different animal at three, winning four of his first five starts.
10. MEGASTAR’S FREAK DEATH: A freak accident claimed the life of valuable broodmare Lincoln’s Megastar, a full sister to Sir Lincoln. The mare, who opened her career with a nine and a half length walloping at Auckland, was retired after six wins, but left only one foal. She was killed when crushed by a fallen tree in a violent storm. Woodlands Stud has another full sister in two-year-old Moonlighting who is in training with Ray Green.