Robbie reveals barrier incident cost Lincoln Star last time - and drying ground suits

Lincoln Star had an excuse for running only fifth last start and drying conditions today could be all he needs to upset his rivals at Awapuni on Thursday.

Lincoln Star is one of four Lincoln Farms’ horses Robbie Hannam will ride at the meeting and so long as the track gets back to a dead 6, he says he’s his best winning chance.

The track condition at 8.55am today was a slow 7, in from a slow 8 yesterday, and there’s no rain forecast today and only a minimal amount on Thursday morning.

Hannam was on board Lincoln Star 11 days ago when his chances were virtually ruined before he even jumped.

Lincoln Star was one of several horses who became upset when Veuve Clicquot got down and became cast in the gates.

Veuve Clicquot kicked the horse in the adjoining stall, Fattoro Otto, was who checked by the vet and late scratched.

Lincoln Star, two stalls away, also panicked, according to Hannam.

“The barrier blanket he was wearing came off and became tangled up in his back legs. Then he really got frightened and started kicking out at the back of the gates and made solid contact with the steel.”

Lincoln Star was checked by the vet but with no sign of blood Hannam says he was cleared to start.

“But when he got back to the stalls we noticed he had a bit of skin off his legs and I’m picking he might have been feeling a bit sorry for himself the next day.

“That definitely wouldn’t have helped and the wide draw didn’t help either as I was obligated to go forward with 59kg.”

Close to home last start and Lincoln Star is a close third, fighting out the minor money.With the pattern on the day of winners being handy, Hannam said Lincoln Star would have had to make up too much ground if he’d gone back at the start.

Under the circumstances his effort for fifth, just 4.3 lengths from winner Very Appealing, held plenty of merit.

He was still fighting out second placing 100 metres out and was only a long neck and a nose behind third placed Akela Belle at the post.

Trainer Lisa Latta had been expecting an improved run from the horse on the better footing as his recent form was all on unsuitably wet conditions.

Hannam says if the footing on Thursday stays a slow 7 Lincoln Star might not get away with it, and he definitely wouldn’t race as well on a slow 8 track.

Should that be the case Hannam would then fancy Johnny Lincoln (race four) as his best chance.

While Johnny Lincoln too doesn’t act best on very wet ground Hannam believes he could get away with it carrying only 56.5kg on Thursday, when he goes up a rating band.

Robbie Hannam salutes on Platinum Invador who looks a next-up bet over a middle distance. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.Platinum Invador (race eight) is definitely the classiest of Hannam’s rides on Thursday and the jockey was rapt with his effort for fifth last time in the Group III Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham.

“He went a boomer and looked like he’d even run in the first three for a while until he hit a brick wall and blew out at the 200.

“This isn’t as good a field and had it been on the bigger course I’d have said he was my best chance because he doesn’t mind it slow.

“But they’re running the meeting on the inside short course, which has tighter turns and doesn’t suit back runners because they really sprint into the straight.

“He’ll improve with the run and really needs a middle distance not 1550 metres but he’s good enough to run in the first three or four.”