New Zealand Cup tilt on the cards for ultra laid-back Lincoln King after Matamata upset

Lincoln King could have earned a tilt at next month’s $250,000 New Zealand Cup with his terrific win at Matamata today.

Having just his second run this preparation, and stepping straight up to 2000 metres, Lincoln King came from third last in the running with such a sustained finishing burst he turned what looked an impossible mission into a three-quarter length win over De Koning.

Trainer Stephen Marsh signalled before the race that he was expecting a big effort from the horse, who paid $19 to win, and he was considering tackling the Counties Cup on November 21. But watching him today he said he was struck at how everything he did was like a dead-set stayer.

“I’m starting to think we should be looking at the New Zealand Cup. He has all the attributes of a horse who will stay all day.

“He’s just so laid back. If he was any more laid back he’d be going backwards.

“I don’t think his heart rate changes from the time you saddle him up to when he gets behind the gates and that’s what you’re looking for in a two miler.”

Marsh said he expected Lincoln King to race much handier today and be on the bit for rider Danielle Johnson but an early hiccup put paid to those plans.

“Danielle said he got a bit of a check coming out of the gates, dropped the bit and wouldn’t go.”

What then transpired showed Lincoln King to be in the mould of a perfect two-miler.

“They ran fast in front and he just flopped along until Danielle asked him to go.”

That the horse could sustain his run right to the line spoke volumes for his staying ability.

“He’s a real improving stayer and he’s going to get two miles. The New Zealand Cup is usually a very ordinary race.

“There’s nothing coming out of the woodwork, so it will be the usual suspects, and it’s worth good money.”

Lincoln King’s part-owners John and Lynne Street.The $250,000 stake is looking very attractive to Marsh too as he has a share in the horse, along with Lincoln Farms owners John and Lynne Street, their business manager Ian Middleton and Bill Gleeson’s Wellfield Holdings.

“We’ll see how the horse is next week, and keep our options open, but I’m thinking we go to Te Rapa in two weeks for a 2100 metre race, then put him on the plane south.”

Lincoln King would have his final lead-up in the $75,000 Metropolitan Trophy on the first day on the cup carnival, November 7, before the feature the following Saturday.

“The Te Rapa 2100 wouldn’t be the best race for him but the step-up afterwards to 2500 metres then 3200 metres would be ideal.”

Marsh said he was really taken by how Lincoln King was able to jump up from 1600 metres to 2000 metres at only his second run - and win.

“Not many stayers can do that. You’d usually give them a 1400, then a couple of 1600s before tackling 2000 metres.

“But he had three trials before we lined him up. I remember his coat was looking a bit rough back then but even when he ran last in that first trial Jason Waddell told me he was going great.”

Should the trip go ahead, one of Lincoln King’s biggest rivals in the New Zealand Cup is sure to be yesterday’s third-placed The Good Fight who carried 4kg more than Lincoln King and did well to get within 1.3 lengths of the winner under his 61.5kg impost.

Danielle Johnson brings Lincoln King back to scale, her fourth winner of the day. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.