Lincoln King downs unlucky stablemate Starrybeel in the Wellington Cup. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images
Stephen: Lincoln King terrific and Saturday’s Nathans will have him on song for the Cup
By Barry Lichter • 3 March 2022
Lincoln King is feeling on top of the world and trainer and part-owner Stephen Marsh expects Saturday’s Nathans Memorial run to bring him to his peak for the $500,000 Auckland Cup eight days later.
The final dress rehearsal for the March 13 Ellerslie feature has attracted only four other cup runners and none of the top three favourites but Marsh is not looking for any more than a strong finish from his charge over the 2200 metres.
“He won’t have raced for 35 days since winning the Wellington Cup so this race will bring him on. I expect he’ll get back, find his way to the line, and be right on song for the cup.”
Marsh says while Lincoln King not unexpectedly lightened up a little after his Trentham triumph, after a short break and a week on the water walker he was right back in the zone.
“He’s going terrific, I’m really happy with him. His work has been terrific - I loved his work last Saturday. He really is feeling good, on top of the world.”
With cup winning jockey Craig Grylls suspended, Saturday’s ride goes to 1kg claiming apprentice Joe Kamaruddin, who will bring Lincoln King’s weight down to 57kg.
Kamaruddin is in great form this season, his 42 winners placing him seventh on the jockeys’ premiership.
The following Sunday, under the weight conditions of the Auckland Cup, Lincoln King will drop another kilo to 56kg, the same as Concert Hall and 2kg lighter than topweight Sound in what could hardly be called a vintage field.
“Grylls will be back on the 13th and we’ll be spot on for the two miles.”
Lincoln King has opened $8 equal second favourite on Saturday, with stablemate Starrybeel, behind the $2.30 Baker-Forsman-trained Spirit Of Baz.
Shadow Cup field
(Only 15 horses left in the nominations)
2176 Sound 58
8192 Concert Hall 56
4281 Lincoln King 56
0096 Charred 55
2569 Ember Attack 55
5345 Hit The Road Jack 55
2659 Hurry Cane 55
8098 Joe’s Legacy 55
8677 Roger That 55
2492 Starrybeel 55
2007 Swords Drawn 55
4936 Tarwyn 55
x908 Te Akau Caliburn 55
0225 House Of Cartier 54
8135 Uareastar 53
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Lisa’s comments
Friday at Awapuni
Race 8: Lincoln Towers
4.53pm
“He needs two more scratchings to make the field and, because it’s the first day back racing at Awapuni and they’re running only 12 horses, that looks doubtful. I decided to run him over 1400 metres as I think leaving him at 1200 wouldn’t be the right thing to do. He has continued to work well and had a really nice gallop on the course proper this week.”
Stephen’s comments
Saturday at Te Rapa
Race 7: Billy Lincoln
3.37pm
“He’s bounced out of his trial (third on the Cambridge synthetic) very well and it’s time to kick him off. I wouldn’t expect him to win at 1200 metres but it will bring him on nicely. Then we’ll step him up to a more suitable 1400 and second-up he can be very competitive. Rihaan Goyaram rides and claims 3kg down to 53.5kg.”