Platinum Machine and Lincoln Raider give Lincoln Farms top chance at Trentham double

Promising filly Platiunum Machine and course specialist Lincoln Raider give Lincoln Farms a good chance of winning the opening two races at Trentham on Sunday.

Platinum Machine, runner-up in her last two starts, comes in with the lightest weight in the opening race, while Lincoln Raider is topweight in race two, primed for the winner’s circle with two excellent fourths in a new campaign.

Platinum Machine gets out to 1600 metres for the first time, the distance of next month’s 1000 Guineas at Riccarton, a classic trainer Lisa Latta has had in the back of her mind for some time even though she is still at the blowout odds of $101.

“She’s a very pomising filly but she’d need to win on Sunday to keep her Guineas hopes alive.

“She’ll need everything to go her way from a tricky wide draw but I expect her to be very competitive in this field.

“I don’t think the 11 draw will bother her as she doesn’t like being locked away on the inside.

“She’s working really well and looks fantastic.”

Trentham had improved to a heavy 10 this morning and with two clear days forecast Latta hopes it could come back to a slow 8 by race time.

“There is some rain forecast on Sunday but she gets first use of the track and I’m hoping it stays away until later in the day.”

Platinum Machine looked a real improver in her last start at Awapuni when she sprinted late after being held up in traffic behind runaway winner Queen Of Spades.

“Lisa (Allpress) was adamant she would have won. She’s still learning to come between horses but is getting better all the time.”

Lincoln Raider has returned a winner under the Trentham arch three times. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.It’s nearly two years since Lincoln Raider last won a race, Latta unable to prepare him properly because of ongoing issues with his knees.

Lincoln Raider was looking a real star in the making before bone chips were discovered in his knees which required surgery in February, 2019.

But he has been much better this campaign and returns to the scene of his latest win, and favourite course.

The only time he has not featured on the big, roomy track was in his last start there in January, 2020 when his knees were giving him real grief. Before that he had racked up three wins and a second in the Douro Cup in four starts there.

“I’m really happy with him,” says Latta. “He has come up better than ever and he always saves his best for Trentham so I expect him to be very hard to beat.

“He carries top weight but with the barrier problems we have had I think we are better off with a senior rider in Jonathan Riddell.

“He didn’t quite handle the heavy 11 at Awapuni last start so we just have to hope the rain stays away.”

Lincoln Raider has won on slow 8 footing at Trentham and has twice carried 59.5kg, and once 58.5kg, in his wins there so 59kg shouldn’t worry him.

In a small field, from a good barrier, he is sure to be hitting the line hard over 1600 metres on Sunday.

And if his work at Awapuni on Tuesday is anything to go by, when he clocked 48.9 and 36.8 on a slow No.1 grass alongside stablemate and race rival Lincoln Star, he can reward patient owners John and Lynne Street and Neville McAlister for their faith in him.