Lincoln’s Girl has been competing in fast-run races against much stronger opposition. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
Lincoln’s Girl will find the slower Manawatu tempo a walk in the park
By Barry Lichter • 19 November 2018
A big drop in class and the inside barrier makes Lincoln’s Girl the one to beat in the sixth race at Manawatu on Tuesday night.
Lincoln’s Girl’s form looks less than flattering but she won’t have to go anywhere near the same speed as in her last two starts when seventh.
At Cambridge last time, she had no chance when shuffled to four deep on the markers with winner Patanjali on the front end clocking a slick 2.41.5 for the 2200 metres, a mile rate of 1:58.1.
And before that at Auckland, Lincoln’s Girl had no chance when she galloped out of the gate and settled a clear last, with classy winner On The Cards running a mile rate of 1:58.8 over 2700 metres.
That race was an up to rating 74 event and on Tuesday night Lincoln’s Girl lands in a rating 53-56 race over the much more suitable trip of only 2000 metres.
When main race rival Stoppitt won on the first night of the last Manawatu meeting he clocked a mile rate of 2:03 for 2000 metres, a clip that Lincoln’s Girl would find a walk in the park.
“On paper you’d have to be disappointed if she didn’t get some of it,’’ says trainer Ray Green. “The drop in class will help her immensely.’’
It will be up to driver Zachary Butcher to get the filly to race kindly, he says, but over a short trip round the tight 900 metre track, which will suit her, she deserved to be favourite.
Vinibaka … on first road trip to Manawatu and meets poor opposition.Stablemate Vinibaka, also banished to Manawatu after some indifferent form, is well placed to pay his travelling expenses in the eighth race.
From two on the gate, with Vinibaka’s excellent gate speed, Butcher should have no trouble crossing over to the lead.
And being easily the highest ranked horse on a rating 46, in a field devoid of form, he will be hard to peg back, again over only 2000 metres.
Vinibaka had no chance to use his gate speed last time at Cambridge when, after drawing the inside of the second row, driver David Butcher was shuffled to four deep on the markers.
“David said he felt good ’til they sprinted at the 600 then he flattened out and when he showed him daylight in the straight he couldn’t go on.’’
In Vinibaka’s defence, he was bottled up in traffic until the last 100 metres when the race was all over.
More news in Harness
Brace for Ray and Lincoln Farms at Cambridge but Colonel’s placing just as thrilling
Ray: Preferential draw for top fillies makes it tough for everyone else in Golden Gait series
Patient owners hoping high-priced Colonel can salute at Cambridge on Thursday night
Friday’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup all about the standing start manners of Aussie raider
Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”
