Long wait for expensive mare to deliver but Lincoln Lover gives partners hope at last

When Bill Gleeson and Lincoln Farms paid $400,000 for a beautiful, big Zabeel filly at the 2009 premier yearling sale a Karaka it was for one purpose only - to breed a topliner from her.

They’re still trying with Jessie Street 13 years later but when Lincoln Lover romped to a three and a quarter length win at Otaki on Friday, their hopes were finally lifted a little.

“I’m not saying this one’s a champion but hopefully we’re turning the corner a bit and our patience will be rewarded,” Gleeson said.

Lincoln Lover is Jessie Street’s fifth foal and the first not sired by Alamosa, who stood at Gleeson’s own Wellfield Lodge.

Bill Gleeson … “I threw my hands in the air.”Two of her offspring have won - Almo Street’s bad barrier manners stopped him from winning more than two races and Louie Lincoln won a race only after being banished to the South Island.

“She never quite clicked with Alamosa and I threw my hands in the air.”

Enter Lincoln Farms’ business manager Ian Middleton who was tasked with choosing a new stallion to try to inject more speed into the family.

“To say Jessie Street has been a disappointment is an under-statement,” Middleton said.

“I knew we had to get off the Alamosa train, she looked to cross nicely with Dalghar, and the price was right.”

Middleton, who ironically was busy working and forgot to watch the Otaki race, said it was a delight to get one with promise out of the mare.

“There’s an old saying that you need only one good one to make it worthwhile. And how many mares consistently leave top horses? Not many.”

Gleeson said Lincoln Lover had been immature but, now four, she would hopefully develop into a useful campaigner.

“I’ve had a lot of luck earlier with the family. It’s a premier catalogue family, black type all round, and she has a very good pedigree page.”

Gleeson got 12 foals out of Lincoln Lover’s grand dam St Jessie, including the talented but ill-fated Manawatu Cup winner Rock On.

“We have another couple of nice foals out of Jessie Street now - a yearling filly by US Navy Flag and a two-year-old colt by Vespa.”

Lincoln Lover, who was cruising behind the leaders turning for home, and cleared out late in the stretch, was the third winner of the day for trainer Lisa Latta and one of five for premiership leading jockey Michael McNab.