Right handed? Tick. Derby trip? Tick. Parkes gives Lincoln Falls the big tick at Ellerslie

Lincoln Falls might not have won the Uncle Remus Stakes at Ellerslie but for trainer Lisa Latta it was a case of mission accomplished.

Latta heard everything she wanted from rider Johnathan Parkes after the classy colt returned to scale on Boxing Day to give her the confidence to press ahead with a tilt at the $1million New Zealand Derby in March.

A number of factors were against Lincoln Falls who was having his first try right-handed, his first look at Ellerslie, and his first experience of a testing heavy 10 track, but the classy colt still fronted up, finishing just a head from third.

“It was a very good run,’’ Parkes told Latta and co-owner John Street.

“He didn’t begin that well and I was going to get caught three wide so I opted to ride him back. We were probably a bit too far back but the mid-sectionals were slow and it didn’t help when they sprinted.’’

Lincoln Falls was held up slightly on straightening but Parkes was adamant the heavy track condition blunted his powerful finish. Ellerslie had soaked up 139ml of rain in the previous seven days.

“He felt like he was going to let down well and then I think it tied him up, it was a bit holding for him. I think he would have let down a lot better on a firmer track.’’

But Lincoln Falls answered the two big questions which Latta and Street had of the colt: Will he go right-handed and will he stay?

“There was no issue whatsoever going that way round,’’ said Parkes. “He had the rail to follow so it guided him the whole race but when I came two off up the straight he darted in between horses fine - he’s pretty professional now.’’

“Do you think he’ll stay the derby trip,’’? Street asked.

“Yes, he will,’’ said Parkes. “He was travelling on the bridle pretty hard but with the sectionals being slow he was entitled to. He still ran on pretty well and I’m sure on top of the ground he would have really sprinted as he has a big turn of foot.’’

Parkes said Lincoln Falls would have learned a lot from his first visit to Ellerslie and when asked if he would commit to riding the colt in the $225,000 Levin Classic on January 12, right through to the Derby on March 2, he had no hesitation.

“I’m on him. Awesome.’’

Johnathan Parkes brings Princess Amelie back to scale at Ellerslie.Princess Amelie terrific

Parkes will also be back on Princess Amelie when she returns to Ellerslie on January 26 for the $70,000 Group III Mongolian Khan Trophy.

The filly was terrific in running third yesterday against older rating 72 rivals, just three lengths from winner Pretty To Sea despite being trapped three wide most of the way after a tardy start.

“She got agitated and lunged at the gates a couple of times and when they did open she just propped,’’ Parkes said.

With her good gate speed Parkes had intended to go out with the leaders but instead was left back and wide.

“I was left a little bit deep and we paid the price a little bit but it was a great run from where she was.’’

Latta was delighted with the effort and believes the filly has a great chance of getting valuable black type next start back against her own age group.

Lincoln Raider parading before his race at Ellerslie. Rider Opie Bosson reported he was unhappy all the way.Footing trips Raider

Lincoln Raider was subjected to a post-race vet check after finishing only eighth as favourite in the Dunstan Final.

Rider Opie Bosson reported the horse seemed quite scared of the other horses in the early stages and even tried to jump the running rail halfway down the back straight.

“I was climbing over it, he was never happy throughout the whole race and trotted back a bit gingerly.’’

Vets found nothing outwardly amiss with Lincoln Raider and Latta suspected the very holding ground may have tied him up.

The horse never unleashed his trademark dazzling finish in the run home and was a beaten runner when tightened 100 metres out, forcing Bosson to ease right down.

Lincoln Raider cooled out fine and Latta will press ahead with a planned start at Trentham on January 12.