Colonel Lincoln powers home to score after a great drive by Maurice McKendry. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Street tells how sharing the thrill with his brother and sister elevated the Colonel’s win
By Barry Lichter • 8 February 2025
John Street has won more than 1000 races as an owner but few gave him as much of a thrill as Colonel Lincoln’s win at Auckland on Friday night.
The Studholme Bloodstock @ Christchurch Yearling Sale Pace didn’t have a rich stake or carry the prestige of some of the big cups he and his wife Lynne have won over the years but it saw him share the buzz of winning with his brother and sister.
Street gave his brother Kevin and sister Bev Glass a share in the Bettor’s Delight - Jessies Cullen colt after he paid a sale-topping $200,000 for him at the 2021 yearling sales, pledging they’d never have to pay a cent in training fees either.
FAMILY AFFAIR: John Street, right, and his brother Kevin shake hands as sister Bev, centre, greets Colonel Lincoln after the race.But their hopes of racing a topliner together fizzled out when in April, 2023 Colonel Lincoln showed signs of bowing a tendon.
Trainer Ray Green gave the horse six months off, during which time he was gelded and spent time on the water treadmill at Margaret Park in Matangi.
“He’d been back in work for only three weeks when the tendon in his other leg started to flare up,” Green said. “Luckily, we caught it in time before it got serious.”
After 21 months away from the track, Colonel Lincoln made it back last December and in four starts since has notched two wins and two seconds, his win on Friday night, in particular, hinting at bigger things to come.
Street was thrilled that his brother and sister were at the Park on Friday night to see their horse power home to a convincing win over stablemate Lincoln Lou.
While Bev had a share in his good galloper Justanexcuse, who won 10 races, and Kevin and his wife Glenis had a share in his classy but ill-fated Zabeel Classic winner Mikki Street, they had yet to experience the same highs in harness racing.
And that’s why he delighted in driver Maurice McKendry’s report on how strong the horse felt at the line.
Driver Maurice McKendry tells trainer Ray Green that Colonel Lincoln is going to stay like “a mother-in-law.”“He could have gone round again, he’ll stay like a mother-in-law,” McKendry said.
Green, too, believes Colonel Lincoln has the talent to make his mark in the higher grades.
“He always had a bit of class. He’s taken a bit of time, but it looks like he’s arrived and he’s really in the zone now.
“Time will tell us how far he’ll take us but he’s doing it with a bit of authority.
“And this time in he’s been perfect - I’ve almost forgotten it (his injuries) ever happened.”
Street, who said he’d always loved the beautiful-moving horse, applauded McKendry’s handling of Colonel Lincoln to win from the outside gate of eight.
After taking him back to last early, McKendry went on a long, sustained run round the field to park at the bell, taking a one-one sit soon after.
But his race-winning move came before the home turn when he jumped into the trail behind leader Messenger Buoy as Benson Dude dropped away.
Once clear, Colonel Lincoln dashed up the passing lane and sprinted clear, easily scoring in 2:42.2 for the 2200 metres as Lincoln Lou started pacing roughly near the finish.
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Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln La Moose
5.43pm
“Drawn well, he should get a good trip and be the one to beat. He got held up at Cambridge last time and these amateur races are easier to win.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.43pm
“The form line doesn’t show it but he actually went ok last time, they just sprinted and left him flat-footed. He’ll go his usual honest race.”
Race 2: Angelic Copy
6.16pm
“She and Linda train and trial together and are much more forward than the others. She’s a proper little tradesman who can do whatever you want and she tries hard.”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
6.16pm
“He’s not as forward as the fillies. He’s still learning and can do nothing but improve.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lover
6.16pm
“He’s another who will benefit from the experience but he’s by Bettor’s Delight and they tend to lift their game when the money’s up.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
6.16pm
“She has a bit of speed but is not as tractable as Linda - she doesn’t handle the corners quite as well and might be a little better left-handed. But she’s as good as any of them at the moment and, in the small field, should get her chance.”
Race 2: Lincoln Linda
6.16pm
“Though drawn the outside, she should really be the one to beat, based on her trial. She’s quite a strong filly, who is well gaited and should go forward. Maurice (McKendry) has driven her two or three times and he likes her.”
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.08pm
“He should be dangerous against what is not a wonderful bunch. He trialled well, a nose behind Lewey Maguire (home in 56.4). All three of mine are nice horses and should be right there.”
Race 4: Tyson
7.08pm
“He was laying in on the corners last time at Cambridge and it was just a sprint home. He needs to be driven a bit more aggressively - he’s gone his best races when he’s been put in the race. Remember he sat parked when third to Arna’s good one (Chase Me) in December. He can tough it.”
Race 4: Colonel Lincoln
7.08pm
“He’s training down well, as good as you could expect. He’s done nothing wrong in three starts back. The outside draw is an inconvenience but, when he slots in, he won’t be far off them.”
Race 7: Kevin Kline
8.38pm
“He got held up last time and the winner got away on him. He should get a nice trip from one. He’ll go another honest race and will be in it for a while.”
Race 7: Debbie Lincoln
8.38pm
“She could be quite a nice filly. The way she’s developing I think she’ll be competitive against the better fillies later in the year. She’s quite versatile and can race tough. She has a lot of potential.”
Race 7: Frisco Bay
8.38pm
“He’d be on a par with Debbie for speed but he can get a bit carried away. Hopefully he can get a nice suck into it. I can’t fault the way they’re training and whichever of the two gets the best trip should win.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 7: Argyle
11.59NZ time
“It’s a good race but I’m more than happy with him. His run the other day was decent. He couldn’t get into it from where he was in the running but he travelled up really nicely and, when he was running a 27.96 last quarter, he was was six wide on the home. I don’t see a lot of pressure in the race and if Hiranya gets an easy lead, and runs home in 55, it will make it hard to make up ground from the back. I’ll let Angus work it out when they say go. He’s got enough speed to roll across them and sit parked but it will depend on how many charge out of the gate.”
