Lucky’s back, tendon still intact, but after so long he’ll need the run on Friday night

Lucky Lincoln is back! But two years and four months after his last race, trainer Shane Baertschiger says you can’t expect too much of him first-up.

Just getting the seven-year-old into the gates for the seventh race at Kranji at 1.50am on Friday night has been a huge mission for Lincoln Farms and its trainers.

The Savabeel gelding who was once looking the most promising of the team in Singapore, winning S$163,035 with four wins and four placings from only 13 starts, damaged a tendon when winning his last start on March 26, 2017.

And when brought back by trainer Bruce Marsh, he lasted only a couple of gallops before breaking down again.

Lucky Lincoln was then sent to a spelling farm near Ipoh in central Malaysia run by Kiwi woman Sandy Lines where he underwent an extensive rehab programme.

Baertschiger has had him back since January and after two trials, in June and July, his tendon is holding up well.

“Whether he can find his form after so long and the tendon problems he’s had, we’ll find out. You don’t know if they’ll let down when they know they might hurt.”

Lucky Lincoln ran third in his latest trial 10 days ago and had a good blow afterwards, says Baertschiger.

“He’ll need the run. We’ll let him find his feet and work home and maybe he can run into place but we won’t be hurting him.

“Lim’s Dream looks a good thing in the race.”