Fingers, and toes, crossed as inexperienced apprentice takes the reins on Moonlight

Trainer Shane Baertschiger sounds a note of warning to anyone who thinks Lincoln Moonlight is simply a line-up-and-win job at Kranji on Sunday.

Lincoln Farms’ promising four-year-old strikes a small and very winnable race in the fourth at 6.40pm NZ time.

But with topweight of 60kg in the 1100 metre race on the polyrack, Baertschiger says he had no option than to engage a claiming apprentice.

And when he couldn’t get the No. 1 claiming rider, Simon Kok, he elected to give the relatively inexperienced Mohammed Nizar a chance.

“The 60 kgs would have been too much for him but with 56 he will get his chance.

“It will all come down to how he rides him from a sticky barrier.”

Lincoln Moonlight has drawn eight in the nine-horse field and Baertschiger says he’ll instruct Nizar to go forward and try to ride the horse in the first four.

“But there’s a bit of speed inside him and I am worried he might get caught wide.”

And even though the race is only worth S$20,000, Baertschiger says any one of the top four could win so Lincoln Moonlight will need a good ride.

Mohammed Nizar … holds the fortune of Lincoln Moonlight in his hands.Nizar, 33, a foreman fireman, has ridden just three winners but has had limited opportunities, says Baertschiger.

“If he rides him well, and gets a good trip, he’s an each way chance.”

Baertschiger says Lincoln Moonlight was “only fair” last time on July 19 when he went back from a wide draw, was still trapped wide and came five wide turning for home, making steady ground to finish fifth, 6.3 lengths from the winner.

“It might also have been because it was his second-up run and he’d gone so well first-up.”

From another wide gate, Lincoln Moonlight finished an excellent third on June 26, just 1.3 lengths from the winner.

He will be having his ninth start on Sunday but remarkably boasts earnings of S$42,176, from five thirds.

Silent Prince … desperately needs rain to turn his form around. PHOTO: TriPeaksImagery.Shane looking to the heavens

Lincoln Farms’ stablemate Silent Prince has an even more impressive bankroll, of S$91,518 from two wins and four placings. But his form this time in has been woeful with three disappointing eighths and he will start at very long odds in the ninth race at 9.25pm NZ time.

“He just hasn’t come back and I don’t know why.

“He’s a very small horse and quite delicate at only 420 kilos so I’ve got an apprentice on him to take his weight down to 50kg.”

But Baertschiger says even with a good ride by Kok from a good gate (four), on what the horse has shown lately he’s still going to struggle in what looks to be a strong race.

“About the only way I can see him improving is if it rains - and we haven’t had any rain for a month.

“The track’s like concrete at the moment.”

When Silent Prince last placed, when second on November 4, Baertschiger says the track was wet and it was pouring with rain.

“And when he won (last August 12) there was a bit of give in the track.

“At least he’s in the last race so there’ll be every chance for the rain to come.”