Revealed: Why Lincoln’s Girl will go close on Friday - she’s been smashing the clock
By Barry Lichter • 1 May 2019
Lincoln’s Girl’s form line might not reflect it, but the filly has been going gangbusters and she’s a strong each way chance at Albion Park on Friday evening.
The key to Lincoln’s Girl’s chances in the fifth race is that she is back in the draw, and leaves the gate from three.
The Lincoln Farms’ owned filly was banished from the draw after galloping away on April 16 and forced to start from the second row and outside of the arm in her latest two races.
Her two efforts for seventh and third hid the fact she ran the fastest sectionals in her races both times, making up excellent ground after having to be snagged back to the rear.
Lincoln’s Girl sweeps round three wide turning in as she reels off a 54.38 last half.In her last start, on April 26, Lincoln’s Girl clocked an astonishing 54.38 for her last 800 metres, the fastest of the day, and closed in 27.3 to be only 6.6 metres from the winner in a 1:54.5 mile rate.
Trainer Al Barnes will tell you only a few of the very elite horses in Brisbane are capable of matching that 800 metre time.
Two starts back, from the second row, Lincoln’s Girl again made up a huge slice of ground, clocking 55.32 and 27.2 in a 1:55.9 mile, gaining 16.7 metres over the last 800 metres, according to Racing Queensland’s official stats.
The dilemma for Barnes and his driver son Hayden now is that while the filly has been running exceptional times, it’s because she hasn’t been burned early out of the gate.
On Friday, drawn three, the perfect game plan would be to cross the one and two horses then hand up to the four, Timeless Appeal, who led in their last meeting.
“If we lead, we win, but we don’t really want to push her too hard out of the gate and get her back in the habit of charging,’’ says Barnes.
“Ideally we could cross without using too much petrol then sit in behind the four and run it down up the stretch.’’
Barnes is confident Lincoln’s Girl won’t muck up the start this time now she’s fitted with hopple shorteners, which give the driver much more control early.
“The field is similar to last week, it’s a bit tricky, but she’s a good chance and depending on how the race is run I’m confident she should run first or second.’’
Barnes says Lincoln’s Girl, who won in her first appearance in Brisbane, is getting fitter with each run.
“Last week she had a heart rate of 89 afterwards, which is pretty good, but it took her two races to cool out - we had to wash her twice.
“She’s bright as a button today and I can’t fault her.’’
Lincoln’s Girl closed in a sizzling 54.38 last start.
Two starts back Lincoln’s Girl made up 16.7 metres over the last 800 metres, easily the best closer in the race.
Lincoln’s Girl races at 6.23pm NZ time on Friday.
More news in Harness
The dream’s alive but Nate tells why he’ll wait for ‘Harry’ before racing Eric again
Ray gives reformed Rascal his ‘most likely to succeed’ report from the pole on Friday night
Ray doesn’t pull any punches about Sugar Ray but punters weigh in nonetheless
Partners and pedigree made Johnny Lincoln’s win special - but where was everyone?
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.14pm
“She went pretty well last week considering they came a fast last half (56.3) and she sat parked from the 800. She’s back to the amateur grade, and should get a good run from the two draw, so hopefully we can get a bit of cash.”
Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
6.38pm
“He didn’t handle the right-handed bends at Auckland last week (galloping at the 300) so we’ll stick to Cambridge from now on. There’s a bit of gate speed in the race so Harry (Harrison Orange) should be able to sit in somewhere. I think he’s a good chance to run top three.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.59pm
“He’s racing very well. He would have run second last week (to American Me) had he not spooked at the winning post. These are tidy horses he’s racing against but he’s holding his own.”
Race 1: Kevin Kline
5.59pm
“He’ll go better back to a mobile start. He did well to finish so close last week after a slow start than having to do all the donkey work when parked for the last lap. Maurice really likes him because he just puts him into cruise control and he keeps going.”
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.58pm
“She’s not as good as the other filly but some lift their game when the money’s up so maybe she can pick up a cheque.”
Race 3: Lincoln’s Spice
6.58pm
“She looks a pretty decent chance of winning. She’s a real little tradesman, does nothing wrong, is easy to handle, is a nice drive, tries hard, is great gaited and has the potential to get stronger.”
Race 5: Tyson
7.51pm
“We found out he raced with a virus last time. The next morning snot was pouring out his nose and that’s why he didn’t finish it off as well as we expected. He only whacked away in the run home. With that gone, he should race better.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
7.51pm
“I think he’ll be competitive and he’s the best of ours in the race. He won well last week and has trained on well. He’s promising. I couldn’t go as far as to say he’s a classic colt yet but we’ll find out soon enough.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.51pm
“He’s doing my head in. He had no excuse for breaking last week. Maurice (McKendry) didn’t blame the wet track. He said he was gliding along, travelling beautifully, when for no apparent reason he put in big steps. I’ll put a hood on him this time to see if it’s a nervous issue.”
Race 8: The Rascal
9.23pm
“All going well, he should win what is a poor maiden field. He’s elevated himself from the transfer list and is going well now. He doesn’t have huge gate speed, so he may not lead but he should get a good trip from one. On paper, he’s our best chance of the night.”
