Monday’s Tauherenikau debut will reveal more about ‘switched-on’ baby Lincoln Towers

He’s a striking looking two-year-old with a pedigree of champions but it’s hard to predict what Lincoln Towers will produce at Tauherenikau on Monday.

Trainer Lisa Latta likes Lincoln Towers but has had enough babies to know it’s folly to tip them out on debut.

“He’s a definite chance if he does things right but you just don’t know with two-year-olds, raceday experience is a big thing.”

Only three of Lincoln Towers’ eight rivals in the second race have raced so he shares his inexperience with most of the field but he has shown plenty of galloping ability.

Bought for $130,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s ready-to-run sale on November 17, Lincoln Towers breezed up in a slick 10.35 seconds.

And in his first hitout for Latta, at the Levin jumpouts on December 13, he strode away on good 4 footing to win his 600 metre heat by seven lengths.

He showed his innate speed again when trialled over 850 metres at Foxton a week later but disliked the heavy ground and finished a length second to Monday’s race rival Zambezi Khan.

“It looks like we’re going to get a decent track for him, which is great because I don’t think he’d handle racing on an off track. Based on his work at home I think we’ll see a different horse back on the better surface.

“I’m really happy with him but we’ll know a lot more after this race - he’s still a baby and is still learning but he’s quite a switched-on boy.”

Lincoln Towers is from a hugely successful Pencarrow Stud family.Lincoln Towers certainly has the pedigree to be good. He is by U S Navy Flag, a former champion European two-year-old and Newmarket July Cup winner, whose oldest southern hemisphere foals are two-year-olds.

His dam Palace Gardens didn’t race but there is an abundance of black type in his family.

Second dam Dolmabache is a blood sister to the ill-fated sire Burgundy and fourth dam Richebourg left a host of stars for Pencarrow Stud in SA Oaks winner Grand Echezeaux, who produced Group I winner and successful sire Darci Brahma, and Hong Kong Cup winner Romanee Conti who left Melbourne and Caulfield Cup winner Ethereal.

Latta describes Lincoln Towers as a nice-sized horse, with the natural running ability to make a two-year-old but any thoughts of trying to make a late bid to qualify for the Karaka Million on January 21 are premature.

“I’m really happy with him but we’ll take it one step at a time and get through Monday first. The Karaka Million would be a huge step and he’d need a run that way round first.”

On form, John Bary’s Langmore, wide draw and all, has to be favoured on Monday, having run second on debut to top Karaka Million qualifier Impendabelle, while fellow U S Navy Flag filly Chantilly Lace, though last of four on debut, ran two seconds faster than Lincoln Towers when winning her trial on December 20.

Lincoln Towers will be raced by Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street, Neil and Carolynne Fergus, Tanya and Ross Brader, Arther von Sturmer, Ian Wyeth, S W Dais and P C Wyatt.