Major Achievement (Andre Poutama) scores his first win at Cambridge. PHOTO: Ange Bridson.
Penny drops for Major Achievement as loyal Lincoln Farms’ bunch cheers him home
By Barry Lichter • 9 September 2023
Trainer Ray Green was delighted to see Major Achievement get home at Cambridge for some of Lincoln Farms’ most loyal supporters.
But while the Art Major four-year-old scored comfortably enough over the favourite Harold Hanover, Green admitted there was a time when he feared the horse would never make it.
Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street, the nine women Excell Syndicate, Lance Myocevich, the Red and Blue Syndicate, Margaret Rabbitt, the Four Legs Syndicate and Trevor Casey didn’t have much to be excited about early on.
“He was very slow on the uptake,” Green said. “Taller than most he was a slow maturer but more than that it took him a long time to get gaited up.
“But we gave him time to find his feet and he’s come to it now.
“He needs to sharpen his act up further but he will keep improving.”
Green said Major Achievement hadn’t been racing badly before Thursday’s win which was at his seventh start.
“He’s been going some good races with no luck and being a bit green has also cost him. But he got a super trip on Thursday and was good enough to take advantage of it.”
What had looked to be a bad draw, wide out on the gate, morphed into a good one as lead changes saw him promoted from four back in the running line to the one-one sit.
And when driver Andre Poutama unleashed him turning for home he finished best to score by three-quarters of a length.
Major Achievement, who is out of the Soky’s Atom mare Atom Queen, cost just $30,000 at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock yearling sale in Christchurch.
An embryo transplant half brother to Upanatom (27 wins) and Zacharia (12 wins), he is from the Tuapeka Lodge family of Maureen’s Dream, whose daughter Reality Check left big winners Ultimate Sniper (14 wins) and Ultimate Machete (13 wins).
More news in Harness
Leo Lincoln close to a win: Watch how he copped it early last time at Manawatu
Consisent little Lincoln Lou sold to Western Australia to join fellow ex-Kiwis
Kevin Kline caps record day for Casey and loyal Lincoln Farms’ team - and can repeat
It’s bon voyage Frisky as Ray celebrates another rags to riches sale success
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.44pm
“Fergie’s drive on Sunday was perfect, you couldn’t ask for better, and he said the horse was doing his best work in the last 50 metres. Maybe with another 100 metres he might have got there. His gate speed is only OK so I can see him getting crossed here.”
Race 5: Kevin Kline
6.19pm
“Fergie said he did it easily on the first day, and the horse only did what he had to. He’s been racing much nicer horses at Auckland so it was good to get the win, hopefully it will boost his confidence. I’ll leave the tactics up to Fergie but I imagine he’ll probably do the same thing again, loop the field and outstay them.”
Race 6: Onyx Shard
6.54pm
“I was hoping she’d drop down a grade. She’s had some tough trips recently, having to do a lot of work, and it didn’t help being three wide for the last lap on the first day. Also they only walked and sprinted home. She could be better coming with one run at them.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Lincoln Lover
5.33pm
“He had no chance last start when trapped three wide all the way. That won’t happen this time from the inside draw so that gives him a chance to get some of it.”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.33pm
“He’s shown no gate speed so the wide draw doesn’t matter. He’s coming along all right but will need lots of luck against the hot pots.”
Race 5: Debbie Lincoln
6.54pm
“She seems to have overcome her tying-up issue, her bloods are good, and she’s training well again. She could possibly be underdone and the seven draw makes it very hard.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lou
7.20pm
Scratched. Sold to Western Australia.
Ray’s comments
Sunday at Manawatu
Race 1: What’s Up The Hill
3.16pm
“He’s a work in progress. He just needs more practice - you don’t learn much at the trials with only two or three horses. If he trots the whole way, he should be in the money.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
4.38pm
“We drove her more quietly last time and she finished very well. She got sucked along and did nothing, finishing with plenty of gas in the tank. Ideally she’ll be driven like that again.”
Race 6: Leo Lincoln
5.33pm
“He had his legs taken right out from under him on the first turn last time. He’s racing very well and should be in the money again for sure.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
5.33pm
“We’ve scratched him. He has an abscess in a foot and is quite tender on it.”
