Ray and Debbie just love Rupert of Lincoln and his picket fence formline
By Barry Lichter • 7 November 2018
Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green and his wife Debbie have plenty of reasons to cheer every time Rupert Of Lincoln wins in Australia - and two of them are sitting in their paddock at home.
One, a big, strong looking two-year-old goes by the name of Lindi Lincoln, and the other hasn’t got an official name yet as he’s only a yearling. But they’re both by Sir Lincoln and are sister and brother to Rupert.
And last night at Swan Hill, in Victoria, Rupert put a few more dollars onto their value when he outslugged his rivals to record his second win in as many starts in Australia and fourth win on end.
Since being sold in September by Lincoln Farms to leading Australian owner Merv Butterworth, Rupert Of Lincoln has made a tidy impression, his opening salvo at Geelong when leading most of the way.
And last night he looked even better, sitting parked and powering past the leader inside the final 100 metres to win by 2.7 metres.
His time of 2:06.8 for the mobile 1750 metres equates to a mile rate of 1:56.6 and he showed plenty of zip to record closing sectionals of 55.8 and 27.3.
Sent out a $1.80 favourite for new trainer-driver Kerryn Manning, Rupert Of Lincoln never flinched on his run, despite being caught out three wide early and never having cover.
Ray Green … Rupert Of Lincoln’s No. 1 cheerleader. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.The way the horse is improving doesn’t surprise Ray Green who labels him a quiet achiever.
“I always thought he’d go well over there. How far he goes remains to be seen, but he could go on and do a good job.
“When he was here he only ever did what he had to but it was always enough.
“He’s a nice horse, never does anything real flashy, but he’s clean gaited and is an honest soldier.’’
Green lucked into Rupert Of Lincoln’s dam Crush when Lincoln Farms’ boss John Street decided he didn’t want to breed his own any more and shed half a dozen broodmares.
“Debbie and I bought Crush off him - for a couple of grand I think - and she had Rupert inside her.
“The deal was that Lincoln Farms would retain the foal. But we bred her for two years running to Sir Lincoln.
“Lindi Lincoln is in work now and she goes really nicely and the colt’s also very nice. He’s just had a chip taken out of his hock but he could be good too.
“If he’s as good as Rupert I’ll be happy. The mare leaves nice foals and both of them so far have been winners.’’
Crush, a Bettor’s Delight mare who also left one-race winner Lincolns Delight, was in foal to Heston Blue Chip but the embryo was absorbed so Green has put her in foal to new Woodlands Stud sire Sweet Lou.
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Sir Lincoln Top 10
Did you know…
1. CUP DAY BIRTH: It was preordained Sir Lincoln would be a headliner when he was born just hours before the 2006 New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington. Three years later to the day, and almost the hour, he annihilated his rivals on the same course in the Sires’ Stakes Final.
2. AGE NO BARRIER: In his second last race start, at the age of six, Sir Lincoln paced the fastest 1700 metres in New Zealand history, 2:00.5, beating Gold Ace and clocking a mile rate of 1:54 at Alexandra Park. Champion pacer Elsu held the previous record at 2:01.1.
3. ON THREE LEGS: Sir Lincoln ran his last race virtually on three legs, when second to Terror To Love in an Interdominion heat at Auckland. He had to be pulled out of the Melbourne series, and retired, when found to have a subluxated pastern joint - basically his ankle joint was dislocated.
4. SWIFT GOLDEN MILE: Sir Lincoln’s fastest mile was recorded in the 2012 Group III Golden Mile at Menangle in Sydney when he was nosed out by Captain Joy in 1:51.4. He was known by the name Lincoln Royal in Australia.
5. AT THE REINS: One for the trivia fans - how many drivers did Sir Lincoln have in his 57-start career? Maurice McKendry was Linc’s pilot throughout his career but he was MIA four times when the horse was handled by James Stormont, Ken Barron and Blake Fitzpatrick (twice).
6. WINNERS KEEP COMING: In only his third season with runners on the track, Sir Lincoln has already sired the winners of 30 races despite having limited numbers to represent him. Last season in New Zealand alone he had 16 winners from only 39 starters and this term he already has six winners from just 18 starters.
7. SOMEBEACH SOME RAP: Breeding buffs made a beeline for Sir Lincoln after superstar racehorse and stallion Somebeachsomewhere had to be put down with cancer. Sir Lincoln is 7/8th bred on the same cross as Somebeachsomewhere - by Mach Three out of a Beach Towel mare who is in turn out of a Cam Fella mare.
8. DISCOUNT FOR LOYALTY: Broodmare owners are returning to Sir Lincoln in droves. Taken by the attractive foals he is leaving, many book straight back to the Alabar-based sire and take advantage of Lincoln Farms’ loyalty scheme which cuts his service fee in half to just $1250 plus GST.
9. TIME BEST FRIEND: Sir Lincoln’s progeny are mirroring the sire’s own start on the racetrack, benefitting from a little time to mature. The best the horse himself could manage as a two-year-old was one third from four starts but he was a different animal at three, winning four of his first five starts.
10. MEGASTAR’S FREAK DEATH: A freak accident claimed the life of valuable broodmare Lincoln’s Megastar, a full sister to Sir Lincoln. The mare, who opened her career with a nine and a half length walloping at Auckland, was retired after six wins, but left only one foal. She was killed when crushed by a fallen tree in a violent storm. Woodlands Stud has another full sister in two-year-old Moonlighting who is in training with Ray Green.