Out on his own at the finish, Lincoln La Moose surprised with his toughness. PHOTO: Ange Bridson/Race Images.
Rampaging La Moose growing on Ray and right-handed shouldn’t be a worry
By Barry Lichter • 17 April 2024
Trainer Ray Green admits he was quite surprised when Lincoln La Moose ran away for an easy win on debut at Cambridge.
But, while the three-year-old steps up in company at Auckland on Friday night, Green believes he can go on with the good form.
“When they’re having their first start you never know quite what they’ll do but I wasn’t expecting him to race so tough.”
Lincoln La Moose, for so long too delicate to push, galloped round the first turn, going back to share the rear before driver Andre Poutama was forced to let him run at the 1600 because “he was over-racing like a loose cannon.”
Despite having to sit parked, Lincoln La Moose cleared right out from T Bone Walker in the run home to score by three and three-quarter lengths in a very respectable 2:42.6.
“He seems to be one of those horses who puts their best foot forward when the money is up,” Green said.
“Right-handed shouldn’t bother him and he’d have to be in it again from the good draw.”
Green gave the Art Major colt a blow-out at the Pukekohe trials last Thursday given he won’t have raced for a month - and he liked what he saw.
Last at the 400, Lincoln La Moose unwound strongly for Poutama to finish only a length and a half from winner Sunshine Shelby on a 28.9 final quarter.
Speedy Debbie
Two-year-old Debbie Lincoln, who debuts from the pole in the Young Guns fillies’ heat on Friday night, also caught the eye at the same trials meeting.
Out fast from the inside draw, she set up a big early lead on five Steve and Amanda Telfer-trained babies and fought strongly in the run home, bowing only late to Iron Heart.
“She has a lot of ability but that’s the first time she’s got round without galloping. If she can do that again I’ll be happy.
“She’s a little bit nervy but we seem to be getting on top of that.”
Green said he was not expecting the Lather Up filly to beat the Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained favourites given how much she has to learn.
“But I think she’ll be a tidy filly when she develops further. She’s certainly got the speed.”
Leo Lincoln paced under 2:40 at Cambridge last start. PHOTO: Ange Bridson/Race Images.Leo Lincoln, the third runner for Lincoln Farms on Friday night, won no friends with his trial last Thursday, finishing sixth and well behind Duchess Megxit. But Green said he was prepared to forgive the run given he was only there for a hit-out and the top class filly dashed her last quarter in 26.5.
Leo Lincoln is the lowest rated horse in the R48 to R60 race but as a consequence gets the inside draw, an identical scenario to his last start at Cambridge.
And, from the trail that night he bowed only late to brilliant finisher Little Spike and Vessem, running a blistering 2:39.6.
“He’ll go well again,” Green said.
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Ray’s comments
Tuesday at Auckland
Race 2: Colonel Lincoln
3.39pm
“He’s a beautiful horse, and a quality mover, who’s finally demonstrating his ability. He’s done a lot of work and has had a good, solid build-up so he’ll cop a bit of racing now and I don’t see why he won’t be in it again.”
Race 2: Frisco Bay
3.39pm
“If you put him in front or in the breeze he over-races. He needs a run where he can relax in behind - every time he’s got a two-hole trip he’s won. He’s a bit one-dimensional in that respect but he’s got a lot of speed and, if he’d drawn better, I’d have labelled him.”
Race 3: Lincoln Lou
4.04pm
“On paper, he should be favourite. You can’t fault that last run in the Golden Gait and if he repeats that he’s the one to beat. He seems to be back to where we had him before. He’s been incredibly unlucky in a lot of his races. We don’t need good luck, we’re just looking for no bad luck.”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
4.04pm
“I can’t see him beating our other two. I don’t think we’ll see the best of him until well into his three-year-old year. He’s a big, rangy, slow developing horse. We’ll race him on Tuesday then give him a bit of a break.”
Race 3: Debbie Lincoln
4.04pm
“I know this is a step-up in grade, and she’s drawn the outside, but I’ve got a feeling she could be up to it. Her driver, Maurice McKendry, is very enthusiastic about her and he’s no fool. He’s been happy every time he’s sat behind her. She keeps getting better and potentially could be a high class three-year-old filly. I’m quite excited about her.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
4.30pm
“He won’t burn off any quick beginners but he showed he could hold his own from the inside when he won two starts back. He’s just got to do it without doing anything tricky. He can pace roughly, he’s not the complete package yet, but when the penny drops he’ll be a serious horse.”
Race 9: The Big Lebowski
7.17pm
“I wasn’t disappointed with his last run. It’s hard to win those races from long back marks at Cambridge - Copy That had to go a New Zealand record to do it. He’s as good as he can be at the moment but these are the best horses in commission and we’ll be grateful for what we can get.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 3: Onyx Shard
6.38pm
Update: Scratched
“She can get some of it. She has a good draw so should get a good trip. She’s training on well.”
Race 4: Commander Lincoln
7.09pm
“The draw doesn’t matter with him as he’s not one to leave the gate. I thought he went super last time. He got home really well and was unlucky not to run second or even win.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.33pm
“Forget that last run. He half choked when Zac tried to restrain him and started pulling. He’s got a better draw this time, should hop straight into the trail, and hopefully get home as well as when he won the time before.”
