Lincoln’s Kruz is cruising under Lisa Allpress at the finish of the Pegasus Stakes. PHOTO: Ajay Berry/Race Images.
Pressure? What pressure, says Lisa - Kruz support nothing like the Boys Get Paid plonk
By Barry Lichter • 14 November 2022
Update: Postponed until Monday after a horse slipped in the third race.
Trainer Lisa Latta is feeling no pressure even though Lincoln’s Kruz has been strongly backed to win Saturday’s $120,000 Stewards Stakes at Riccarton.
Lincoln’s Kruz opened at a quote of $5 after his cruisy win in last Saturday’s $80,000 Pegasus Stakes but has been backed in to equal $4.20 favourite with Guy Lowry’s fresh-up runner Can I Get An Amen.
But Latta reckons that’s no stress compared with what she felt when saddling up He’s A Doozy for yesterday’s $300,000 Couplands Mile.
Latta knew the Social Media group Boys Get Paid had plonked $60,000 on her horse to win $330,000, and so when Kick On closed within half a neck of He’s A Doozy at the line, her heart rate was through the roof.
The win continued a great trot for Latta at the carnival, after Belclare took out another Group III race earlier in the card, the Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes.
Four of her six horses at the carnival have now scored and she’s hoping for more success with Lincoln’s Kruz on Saturday.
“I didn’t think the field looked too strong,” Latta said. “He beat five of them the other day and stays on the same weight. It’s nice to get into these feature races on such a light weight.”
While Lincoln’s Kruz meets Rockland (2nd), Buoyant (3rd), Burgundy Rose (5th), Challa (6th) and Okay Pal (7th) 1kg worse off, he still carries only 53kg.
Of slight concern is his barrier eight, compared with the inside draw of three last Saturday, Latta previously emphasising the importance of his drawing in close.
“But they were racing in the middle of the track on Wednesday, with the track a bit worn on the inside, and I’m hoping they’ll do the same on Saturday.
“The horse looks fantastic. I wouldn’t say he’s improved since the Pegasus but he recovered well from it.”
Lincoln’s Kruz steps up from his pet 1000 metres to 1200 metres on Saturday but he has scored twice at the extra trip, at Otaki and Trentham.
“If they go hard and Lisa (Allpress) gets him to settle he’ll get his chance.”
More news in Gallops
Money comes for Platinum Attack with the promise of better footing at Trentham
Lisa: It’s a hot field but Platinum Attack’s not out of it - and the $23 odds are very tasty
Lisa: Attack’s been practising right-handed and can run a cheeky race in the Railway
First the draw now the weather threatens to sabotage Platinum Attack’s Telegraph bid
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Lisa’s comments
Friday at Awapuni
Race 8: Lincoln Towers
4.53pm
“He needs two more scratchings to make the field and, because it’s the first day back racing at Awapuni and they’re running only 12 horses, that looks doubtful. I decided to run him over 1400 metres as I think leaving him at 1200 wouldn’t be the right thing to do. He has continued to work well and had a really nice gallop on the course proper this week.”
Stephen’s comments
Saturday at Te Rapa
Race 7: Billy Lincoln
3.37pm
“He’s bounced out of his trial (third on the Cambridge synthetic) very well and it’s time to kick him off. I wouldn’t expect him to win at 1200 metres but it will bring him on nicely. Then we’ll step him up to a more suitable 1400 and second-up he can be very competitive. Rihaan Goyaram rides and claims 3kg down to 53.5kg.”