The team celebrate their win in the Congratulations John and Lynne Street for 1000 wins Pace. PHOTO: Megan Liefting.
Street’s favourite little fighter Lincoln River keeps the champagne corks popping
By Barry Lichter • 15 July 2023
A bout of bronchitis couldn’t keep Lincoln Farms’ owner John Street away from the trots on Friday night when one of his favourite horses Lincoln River helped celebrate his 1000-win milestone for a second time.
Just a couple of weeks ago the showy little black brought up John and Lynne Street’s 1000th win in the harness and gallops codes and on Friday night he won the race named in honour of that unprecedented feat.
“I was coughing and shouldn’t really have gone to the races last night but I love the horse,” Street said. “He’s not very big but he’s a very well proportioned little fella and he has a good heart.”
Street has another reason for loving the well bred horse whom he generously put up for auction last August to raise money for charity.
When he saw the auction for the Foodstuffs Foundation was stuttering he quickly jumped up on stage and offered 50% of Lincoln River who was one of the best bred pacers in his stable, being by the champion sire Bettor’s Delight out of a New Zealand Oaks winner in Ideal Belle.
“It was a spur-of-the-moment decision,” Street said. “But there were a lof of wealthy people in the room and it was a sensational result geting $100,000 out of them.”
The winning bid was made by a team of PAK’nSAVE owner-operators, including Glenn “Grocer” Cotterill, who bought the Lincoln Rd branch in Henderson from Street in 2013.
Lincoln River is too tough for 10-win pacer Brookies Jaffa and Louezyana. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.Cotterill, who already races horses in special partnerships with Lincoln Farms, took a 25% share for $50,000 with the other 25% spread between 10 others.
Street warned the bidders at the time that Lincoln River was still six months away from maturing but in 20 starts since the auction, he has racked up four wins, five seconds and four thirds, earning $46,645 in stakes.
“For many of them it’s their first horse and they’re getting a lot of thrills out of it. He was well backed last night, and I suspect most of it was their money as they’re pretty well off.
“I wouldn’t mind getting them into some more horses.”
The Streets and the Yellow Barn Syndicate, who now race Lincoln River with David Turner, Phil Kelly, David Hooker, Barbara O’Mara, Dave Jones and Lin and Tina Guo can look forward to a bright future with the horse who was well driven on Friday night by Andre Poutama to beat 10-win pacer Brookies Jaffa.
“He’s only going to get better and stronger,” Street said. “He’s not fully matured yet but I just worry what will happen when he wins another race. He’ll be like Simply Sam. We couldn’t get a race for him on Friday night and he’s only a rating 64.
“We won’t sell him but we might have to send him to Australia which is where Simply Sam might have to go.”
Street said he had real fears for the future of harness racing in Auckland, the paucity of horses remaining helped only through the huge investment in recent years by Stonewall Stud’s Steve Stockman.
More news in Harness
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Street’s emotion-charged night in the winners’ room - sad loss before a record four wins
It’s green jackets all the way and Ray fancies improving surprise packet Prince Lincoln
The Lincoln Wave secret is well and truly out now, but who was that mystery underbidder?
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Debbie Lincoln
5.26pm
“She had to sit parked most of the way last time but still went well, and that’s what she does. She’s proven to be a very promising filly and, while it’s hard these days to win without a good trip, it’s an even field and she’s a good chance again.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lou
5.55pm
“He probably cost himself a win last week by going roughly, but he can do that. If he’d got Frisco Bay’s trip he would have won with his closing quarters of 56 and 27 the fastest in the race. He’s just got to do things right to be the one to beat, even from the bad draw, as it’s an easier field.”
Race 5: Frisco Bay
7.30pm
“He’s up in grade a bit but I don’t think there’s anything between them. He’s just got to get the right run and, with his speed, he’ll be right in it.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.59pm
“He’s no superstar but he’s very honest and he’s always a place chance as he’s a tough bugger, he sat parked last week.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.59pm
“With a similar run to last week, he’d be right in it. He clocked 55.8 and 27.7, doing his best work at the finish. He hasn’t gone a bad race since he’s come back.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.59pm
“I wasn’t expecting him to do anything on debut as he’s a green, young horse. But he went very well so he’s obviously lifted his game for the occasion. And he’s trained on even better so the experience has enhanced him. From the inside he has to be a good chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.59pm
“She’s definitely a better animal left-handed but she was passable right-handed and should go better this time. She’s got some speed.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.59pm
“She’s a nice filly but is behind the others. I don’t expect her to beat anything but she needs the experience.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
8.59pm
“There won’t be any shadows for her to jump this time so she has to be a serious chance. She’d been dominant at the workouts and trials before her debut but didn’t get the chance to show her true worth.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.59pm
“Fergie was quite impressed with him on debut and requested the drive again. He finished on strongly up the lane and should go well again. He just needs some luck from the outside of the gate.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 3: Argyle
9.04pm NZ time
“I thought his last two starts have been terrific. There’s no doubt this race is tougher, and he has trickier draw, but I was talking to Angus last night and he was quite upbeat about his chances. He said the horse gave him a good feel when he sat parked two starts back and he picked him too (in the draft). But it won’t be easy. There could be a bit of pressure early. I think he’ll come out and see what unfolds and, if there is too much pressure, he’ll drive him quietly.”
Ray’s comments
Sunday at Manawatu
Race 1: Onyx Shard
5.29pm
“You can put a line through her last run at Cambridge when she pulled up showing signs of a respiratory infection. She had a couple of weeks off after that and, while she hasn’t trialled since, she’s been training down nicely. She’s a nice filly and from the good draw should really win.”
Race 3: Lincoln La Moose
6.19pm
“He wasn’t far away in the amateur race at Auckland last time despite jumping a shadow early and galloping. This is a decent drop in class for him and he should be very competitive.
