Lisa: Lincoln Hills just needs some Danielle magic to upset at Trentham on Sunday

Trainer Lisa Latta is hoping to see some magic by the country’s leading jockey Danielle Johnson to get Lincoln Hills home from a shocker draw at Trentham on Sunday.

Johnson, who is making a one-horse race of the premiership with 46 wins, 28 clear of Craig Grylls and Matt Cameron, will jump from gate 12 in the 13-horse field in race seven.

And that has Latta worried, given the horse goes best when covered up for one short sprint.

“That draw is a concern but I really like the horse’s chances. Danielle is riding really well and I’m sure she will try and get cover somewhere.

“His work has been great and, with luck in the running, he should be hard to beat.”

Lincoln Hills caught the eye in training at Awapuni on Thursday, finishing neck and neck with stablemate Sir Nate after 1000 metres on the dead No. 1 grass, clocked to run 1:02.5, home from the 600 in 37.2.

Latta says to put the line through Lincoln Hills’ last run, when he ran fifth of six behind Go Nicholas in a classy field at Hastings.

“He was held up at a vital time. Leah (Hemi) stayed in at the top of the straight when she should have switched out.”

The result was the horse stalled in a pocket behind Swiss Watch and inside Motivation when he would normally have been making his move.

Lincoln Hills showed his real worth at his previous start when Hazel Schofer timed her run to perfection up the rails to score in a rating 72 event.

On Sunday he meets an even line-up in an open 1400 and bookies have opened him the fifth favourite at $9.50.

Three of Princess Amelie’s five wins have been at Trentham. PHOTO: Race Images.Capable sprinter Princess Amelie, a three-times winner at Trentham, is at the even more attractive odds of $15 in the third race, pitted against in-form runners Mascarpone ($2.30), Deerfield ($3) and Chosen Peak ($6).

“It’s a strong field but she’s had a nice space between runs and the track looks like getting back to a dead4 which would be perfect for her.”

Princess Amelie was no match for Mascarpone when resuming with a seventh at Hastings but drops to 54kg and meets the favourite 4.5kg better off.

“She galloped very well on the plough on Wednesday.”

Safely through Sunday, Princess Amelie will join Latta’s raiding party for Riccarton during cup week where she has targeted the $100,000 Stewards (1200m) on November 11.

Kamanda Lincoln, another who has a ticket booked for Christchurch, backs up after a superlative effort last week at Hastings when nosed out by Vittachi.

Ridden a treat by Sam Collett, Kamada Lincoln was second last early, moved into the action at the 800 and was up disputing the lead four wide turning for home.

Latta says she’s not worried about his drawing 11 on Sunday.

“He got back last week and really finished it off well.”

Kamanda Lincoln would be best suited on Sunday with “a bit of moisture in the ground.”

Fury goes well fresh

Knowing Lincoln Fury goes well fresh, Latta has given the horse three prep gallops at a jump out and trials to fit him for his resumption in race nine.

“He has worked well and his coat is bright so I am expecting a good run given he is going to get the fire out of the track and he has form at Trentham.”

But Latta points out Lincoln Fury is most competitive on slightly wetter tracks than he’ll strike on Sunday. When he won at Trentham in March, 2019 the track was a slow 7 and when her scored first-up last campaign it was a slow 9.

“He’s also still carrying a fair bit of condition.”

Remaining runner Lincoln’s Gal (race four) is first-up for eight months and will have to dramatically turn her form around to feature after a poor last campaign.

“Her last trial was disappointing but with two trials under her belt she will have no excuses.

“She is at the stage where she has to front up.”