Saturday’s Awapuni debutante Platinum Machine has a touch of class

You won’t see the best of Platinum Machine until next season but Lincoln Farms’ trainer Lisa Latta reckons she’s one to paste in your little black books.

The two-year-old debuts for Neville McAlister and Lincoln Farms in the opening race at Awapuni on Saturday, relatively neglected in the opening odds at $11 and $3.10.

But while she might not have the raw speed of some of her trial-winning rivals, Latta says she has a touch of class about her and she is looking forward to seeing her run.

“She’s a lovely filly with that bit of attitude that the good fillies have. She’s not really a two-year-old type, she’s bred to be a middle distance three-year-old, but we thought we’d get a couple of runs into her so she’s more advanced when she comes back in.”

Platinum Machine was a A$32,000 yearling buy in Adelaide.Platinum Machine is by the young Irish stallion Free Eagle, a son of staying sire High Chaparral, and cost A$32,000 at the 2020 Adelaide yearling sale, her dam Cruz By a winner of four races between 1300 metres and 1800 metres.

Platinum Machine has run third in each of her three trials, each time showing enough speed to be ridden just in behind the pace.

“She has good enough gate speed and with a bit of pace outside her hopefully Sam Collett can get a nice sit in behind them.

“If she handles the track I think she can be right in it. It’s a beautiful drying day today so hopefully it will come back from this morning’s slow 8.

“I expect her to go a bold race but as long as she’s getting home I’ll be happy.”

Platinum Machine headlined trackwork at Awapuni on Tuesday when, along with stablemate and race winner Little Uzi, she skipped over 800 metres in 56.1 on the slow No.1 Grass, the last 600 in 37.5, the best of the morning.

Lincoln Raider … smart trial win at Waverley showed he was in good shape. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.Lincoln Raider ($10, $3.30), the only other runner for Lincoln Farms on Saturday, was also the star trackworker at Awapuni last Thursday, reeling off 1000 metres in 1.09.5 in slow going, the last 600 in 39.8.

It followed an eye-catching 1200 metre trial win at Waverley on May 4, rider Jonathan Riddell barely moving on the horse as he went past Collinstreet to win by a nose.

Latta was ordered to trial the horse after he stood in the gates at Te Rapa three days earlier, losing 10 lengths and all chance.

Lincoln Raider drops in class to a rating 74 race on Saturday but consequently will carry 60kg, the heaviest in the race, with Jonathan Riddell on board.

“Ideally I’d like to have claimed on him but I didn’t want to risk it after what happened at Te Rapa. I think it’s more important that we have a senior rider on and get him out of the gates and get a good run into him.

“He’s in the last race so I don’t think the 15 draw is going to be too much of a concern by then. And he has shown a liking for slow tracks so I don’t think the ground will worry him.

“It’s just a question of whether the weight will tell the last bit.

“But on ability alone you’d like to think he can get some of this. He has come on and worked really well since his trial win.”