Lincoln’s Girl as smart as can be in Albion Park trial - now onwards to the Rising Star
By Barry Lichter • 19 June 2019
Lincoln’s Girl looked beautifully primed for Friday night’s Rising Star Championship heat at Albion Park when she trialled in great style at the course yesterday.
Lincoln Farms’ improving filly finished just a head behind Smart As Camm Be, recognised as Queensland’s best filly, without being driven out, pacing the 1660 metres in a mile rate of 1:54.7.
Driver Hayden Barnes sat quiet in the sulky all the way down the home straight, with closing sectionals of 56.5 and 28.7.
“Hayden told me if he’d pulled the plugs and turned the stick he’d have run away,’’ said trainer Al Barnes.
“She went super and she needed the hitout. I didn’t want her to go into Friday night being too sharp and bright as she does get fresh.
“She’s tough and likes to race twice a week.’’
Barnes says Lincoln’s Girl is getting better and better, Hayden believing if the feature races were only over a mile they wouldn’t beat her.
Hayden Barnes is sitting quietly on Lincoln’s Girl yesterday, just a head behind the highly regarded Smart As Camm Be.Yesterday, Hayden was content to trail Tanyas Past until down the back straight with 650 metres to run when he pulled out and easily ran to the lead.
Smart As Camm Be meanwhile ranged up from fourth in the running to be second before the home turn where trainer-driver Kylie Rasmussen eased onto Lincoln’s Girl’s back before sprinting up the passing lane.
Smart As Camm Be, winner of 11 of her last 12 starts, contests Saturday night’s A$21,000 Redcliffe Oaks, leaving the way clear for Lincoln’s Girl on Friday night in the last race at 12.27am NZ time.
And Barnes says if the filly can take out the Rising Star Championship she will win just as much as if she’d won the Redcliffe feature.
This week’s Rising Star heat is worth just A$4500 but the final next week is for a stake of A$16,000.
Lincoln’s Girl draws perfectly in gate four on Friday night in what doesn’t look a strong race.
“From four she can balance up before going forward,’’ says Barnes. “And if they don’t let her go she can sit parked, it won’t worry her.’’
Barnes says Friday’s experience will help accustom the filly to night racing before the Queensland Oaks on July 13.
He’s just in two minds as to whether to let the filly stand in her stall all night waiting for the last race or to take her to the track later in a second load.
“When I first got Lincoln Road he didn’t handle being at the races for a long time but he ended up like a lamb. It might do her good to experience it when it’s only a heat.”
Lincoln’s Girl races at Albion Park at 12.27am NZ time on Friday night.
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Ray’s comments
Tuesday at Auckland
Race 2: Colonel Lincoln
3.39pm
“He’s a beautiful horse, and a quality mover, who’s finally demonstrating his ability. He’s done a lot of work and has had a good, solid build-up so he’ll cop a bit of racing now and I don’t see why he won’t be in it again.”
Race 2: Frisco Bay
3.39pm
“If you put him in front or in the breeze he over-races. He needs a run where he can relax in behind - every time he’s got a two-hole trip he’s won. He’s a bit one-dimensional in that respect but he’s got a lot of speed and, if he’d drawn better, I’d have labelled him.”
Race 3: Lincoln Lou
4.04pm
“On paper, he should be favourite. You can’t fault that last run in the Golden Gait and if he repeats that he’s the one to beat. He seems to be back to where we had him before. He’s been incredibly unlucky in a lot of his races. We don’t need good luck, we’re just looking for no bad luck.”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
4.04pm
“I can’t see him beating our other two. I don’t think we’ll see the best of him until well into his three-year-old year. He’s a big, rangy, slow developing horse. We’ll race him on Tuesday then give him a bit of a break.”
Race 3: Debbie Lincoln
4.04pm
“I know this is a step-up in grade, and she’s drawn the outside, but I’ve got a feeling she could be up to it. Her driver, Maurice McKendry, is very enthusiastic about her and he’s no fool. He’s been happy every time he’s sat behind her. She keeps getting better and potentially could be a high class three-year-old filly. I’m quite excited about her.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
4.30pm
“He won’t burn off any quick beginners but he showed he could hold his own from the inside when he won two starts back. He’s just got to do it without doing anything tricky. He can pace roughly, he’s not the complete package yet, but when the penny drops he’ll be a serious horse.”
Race 9: The Big Lebowski
7.17pm
“I wasn’t disappointed with his last run. It’s hard to win those races from long back marks at Cambridge - Copy That had to go a New Zealand record to do it. He’s as good as he can be at the moment but these are the best horses in commission and we’ll be grateful for what we can get.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 3: Onyx Shard
6.38pm
“She can get some of it. She has a good draw so should get a good trip. She’s training on well.”
Race 4: Commander Lincoln
7.09pm
“The draw doesn’t matter with him as he’s not one to leave the gate. I thought he went super last time. He got home really well and was unlucky not to run second or even win.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.33pm
“Forget that last run. He half choked when Zac tried to restrain him and started pulling. He’s got a better draw this time, should hop straight into the trail, and hopefully get home as well as when he won the time before.”
