Lincoln’s Girl is pushed off the track turning for home on Tuesday but did her best work late.
Lincoln’s Girl only has to be running on strongly to get the big tick again from Al
By Barry Lichter • 24 April 2019
Lincoln’s Girl will be tested from the outside of the gate at Albion Park on Friday but only has to repeat her run of Tuesday to satisfy trainer Al Barnes that she’s on the right track.
The Lincoln Farms owned filly might have finished only seventh last start but she was forced to start outside the draw after her previous gallop and ended up near the rear of the field.
Shunted out five wide on the home turn when mounting a run from the back, Lincoln’s Girl impressed driver Hayden Barnes with her strong finishing final 100 metres.
“She settled well, drove well and finished well off some good sectionals - 56.5 and 28.3 - so I was very happy.
“And she had a good blow afterwards so she’s still improving.’’
Barnes says to see Lincoln’s Girl still winding up after sprinting for 300 metres augurs well for her future.
“If she has a nice strong 400 metres in her then we’ll be right.’’
With Hayden committed to driving the horse he owns, Auckland Reactor debutante Dream Reaction, Lincoln’s Girl will be piloted by Chris Geary, a worthy stand-in according to Barnes.
“He doesn’t know her but if she can just be running on again, that’s all we want to see.’’
Safely through Friday’s race, Lincoln’s Girl can return to the draw and be more competitive at her next start.
Lincoln’s Girl lines up in the third race at 3.53pm NZ time.
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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.”
