What you need to know about plunge horse Lincoln Cove: Do you follow your money?
By Barry Lichter • 19 March 2024
A trial at Pukekohe last Saturday explains why trainer Ray Green says his opinion is still “guarded” over plunge horse Lincoln Cove.
The Downbytheseaside debutant was surprisingly backed off the map on debut at Cambridge 12 days ago, his $21 opening price cut to $13 by scratchings, then hammered in to see him start a $2.20 favourite.
Things didn’t look good in the first lap when Lincoln Cove was forced to work three wide to the death, before landing a one-one sit.
But just when it seemed the horse would still deliver, driver Zachary Butcher easing out on the home turn, Lincoln Cove took fright when his deafeners were pulled, stumbled and galloped briefly.
And, worse, 50 metres later, just when he was again looking the likely winner, he copped a violent shunt, Butcher thrown forward in the cart, when a rival veered out sharply looking for a run, his driver later supended for three days.
Incredibly, Lincoln Cove still kept coming, attacking the line hard for second, beaten one and three-quarter lengths by Shez The One.
Bookies, who dodged a bullet, will be wary about letting anyone on at long odds this week but Green isn’t convinced the horse warrants such respect.
His caution was proven correct at the weekend trials when Lincoln Cove improved from the back to challenge leader Lincoln La Moose only to go into a wild gallop, taking so long to settle he was 14 lengths astern of his stablemate at the finish, albeit making up plenty of lost ground.
“He ranged up looking dangerous in the trial and for some inexplicable reason had a gallop,” Green said.
“I’d like to see him get round safely before I form an opinion of him as he certainly has a few tricks.
“Zac reckoned he would have gone straight on by at Cambridge had he not galloped but he didn’t look to lose much ground to me. And even though he got shunted a bit after that, again he didn’t lose too much momentum.
Lincoln La Moose … has taken time to strengthen. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.“While he would have the wood on Moose on ability, he could take a few runs to come right.”
Lincoln La Moose, who debuts after six workouts and five trials, three of them this prep, has taken time to strengthen, Green said.
“He’s a delicately built guy who took a little time to cope with the work.
“I think the ability is there and he looks to have strengthened a bit so he should go reasonably well from four on the gate.”
An Art Major colt out of Cullens Princess, Lincoln La Moose is a half-brother to six-race winner Miki Montana.
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Ray’s comments
Tuesday at Auckland
Race 2: Colonel Lincoln
3.39pm
“He’s a beautiful horse, and a quality mover, who’s finally demonstrating his ability. He’s done a lot of work and has had a good, solid build-up so he’ll cop a bit of racing now and I don’t see why he won’t be in it again.”
Race 2: Frisco Bay
3.39pm
“If you put him in front or in the breeze he over-races. He needs a run where he can relax in behind - every time he’s got a two-hole trip he’s won. He’s a bit one-dimensional in that respect but he’s got a lot of speed and, if he’d drawn better, I’d have labelled him.”
Race 3: Lincoln Lou
4.04pm
“On paper, he should be favourite. You can’t fault that last run in the Golden Gait and if he repeats that he’s the one to beat. He seems to be back to where we had him before. He’s been incredibly unlucky in a lot of his races. We don’t need good luck, we’re just looking for no bad luck.”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
4.04pm
“I can’t see him beating our other two. I don’t think we’ll see the best of him until well into his three-year-old year. He’s a big, rangy, slow developing horse. We’ll race him on Tuesday then give him a bit of a break.”
Race 3: Debbie Lincoln
4.04pm
“I know this is a step-up in grade, and she’s drawn the outside, but I’ve got a feeling she could be up to it. Her driver, Maurice McKendry, is very enthusiastic about her and he’s no fool. He’s been happy every time he’s sat behind her. She keeps getting better and potentially could be a high class three-year-old filly. I’m quite excited about her.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
4.30pm
“He won’t burn off any quick beginners but he showed he could hold his own from the inside when he won two starts back. He’s just got to do it without doing anything tricky. He can pace roughly, he’s not the complete package yet, but when the penny drops he’ll be a serious horse.”
Race 9: The Big Lebowski
7.17pm
“I wasn’t disappointed with his last run. It’s hard to win those races from long back marks at Cambridge - Copy That had to go a New Zealand record to do it. He’s as good as he can be at the moment but these are the best horses in commission and we’ll be grateful for what we can get.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 3: Onyx Shard
6.38pm
Update: Scratched
“She can get some of it. She has a good draw so should get a good trip. She’s training on well.”
Race 4: Commander Lincoln
7.09pm
“The draw doesn’t matter with him as he’s not one to leave the gate. I thought he went super last time. He got home really well and was unlucky not to run second or even win.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.33pm
“Forget that last run. He half choked when Zac tried to restrain him and started pulling. He’s got a better draw this time, should hop straight into the trail, and hopefully get home as well as when he won the time before.”
