Lisa: All we want at Wanganui on Friday is no more bad luck for Lincoln’s Kruz

Trainer Lisa Latta is hoping Lincoln’s Kruz has used up all his bad luck when he lines up at Wanganui on Friday.

The showy black has had nothing go his way since last November when he narrowly missed notching back-to-back wins in the Pegasus Stakes at Riccarton.

His summer of woes reached a frightening climax in the Telegraph at Trentham last start when he was first knocked, badly unbalanced and forced onto the hind-quarters of a rival when leaving the gates.

But much worse was to come in a chain reaction of interference and crowding 700 metres from home which saw Lincoln’s Kruz clip heels, blunder and dislodge rider Jonathan Riddell.

Riddell was stood down with minor injuries and Lincoln’s Kruz was assessed by the course vets as 3/5 lame in the near foreleg after losing his racing plate.

Latta says Lincoln’s Kruz took a week or so to recover from the incident but has pleased her since and his recent work has been very good.

From the inside alley on Friday, she says Lincoln’s Kruz should get every chance to atone in the much lesser rating 86 sprint.

“He has ended up near topweight but Lily Sutherland’s claim will get him down to 58kg.”

Lincoln’s Kruz, who has won with 59kg on his back, showed in his previous start that he was in fine trim, finishing only half a head, a neck and a length from Is That So at Trentham, despite being bumped at the start.

But any chance he had in the Stewards at Riccarton in his previous start went up in smoke when he was slow to begin then held up early in the run home.

While four of Lincoln’s Kruz’s six wins have been over 1000 metres, when the generally stronger tempo allows him to settle better, he has scored twice over 1200 metres, including a 1:08.52 clocking at Trentham.

Is That So (Michael McNab) looks to be one of the hardest for him to beat again on Friday after his chances were also extinguished in the Telegraph - he knuckled leaving the barriers then was badly hampered by the riderless Lincoln’s Kruz near the 200 metre mark when unleashing a likely looking run.

Later in the day Latta also lines up Lincoln Falls for Lincoln Farms, the now eight-year-old still battling to find the winner’s circle after repeated tendon injuries.

But Latta likes him in the rating 65 mile, when he will be ridden by Sutherland with a 1kg claim down to 58.5kg.

“He’s going to be able to land in a lovely position from the five draw and I’m quite excited about his chances. His work on Wednesday morning was really good and he is a very happy horse.”