Wheretheresawill, Sir Lincoln finds a way
By Barry Lichter • 30 September 2018
Sir Lincoln kept up a remarkable record of leaving winners from nondescript mares when Wheretheresawill scored at Auckland last Friday night.
The Alabar-based sire had the enviable stats of 16 winners from 39 starters last season and he is on target to eclipse that percentage this term.
Wheretheresawill became the fifth individual winner from just 16 starters for the former top racehorse after only two months.
Co-owner Robyn Arnold would hardly take issue with the statement that his dam Lady Willpower came from the wrong side of the tracks.
She bought the mare from Kumeu trainer Rod Bowker for just $1 after a less than distinguished career which saw her win only two of 72 starts.
After winning two races in her first five starts in January, 2007, Lady Willpower searched forlornly for the winner’s circle in the next six and a half years, running just five placings.
Arnold herself drove the mare eight times in amateur races for just one placing. But she still became attached enough to the mare to want to breed a foal from her, even though her dam Angel Of The Morning made no headlines either, winning one of five starts.
The mating with Sir Lincoln produced a nice enough foal, if a little quirky, according to Kumeu trainer Ken Sefonte.
“He was always likely to do a U turn on the track or throw himself down and you have to be on your toes when gearing him up.
“But mainly he’s just needed time to fill his big frame.
“He hasn’t got high speed but he’s tough and he found the line really well.
“I told James (Stormont) to cut him loose at the start and see where he ended up.’’
They ended up in front and even though hotly challenged by About Turn over the last 100 metres, the now four-year-old grimly held on to win by half a head.
Little ‘bro Sabreur even better, tips Sefonte
“I’ve got a full brother I like even better called Sabreur who qualified really well and has had one race.
“I came off the track after driving him one morning and told Robyn she’d rue the day she gave the mare away.’’
Unable to justify costly agistment, Arnold cut her ties with Lady Willpower after a return service to Sir Lincoln and Sefonte says the mare is now running round a paddock somewhere up north as a hack.
Three-year-old Sabreur, who is close to lining up again for Arnold after two workouts, placed in the latest at Pukekohe on September 22.
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Sir Lincoln Top 10
Did you know…
1. CUP DAY BIRTH: It was preordained Sir Lincoln would be a headliner when he was born just hours before the 2006 New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington. Three years later to the day, and almost the hour, he annihilated his rivals on the same course in the Sires’ Stakes Final.
2. AGE NO BARRIER: In his second last race start, at the age of six, Sir Lincoln paced the fastest 1700 metres in New Zealand history, 2:00.5, beating Gold Ace and clocking a mile rate of 1:54 at Alexandra Park. Champion pacer Elsu held the previous record at 2:01.1.
3. ON THREE LEGS: Sir Lincoln ran his last race virtually on three legs, when second to Terror To Love in an Interdominion heat at Auckland. He had to be pulled out of the Melbourne series, and retired, when found to have a subluxated pastern joint - basically his ankle joint was dislocated.
4. SWIFT GOLDEN MILE: Sir Lincoln’s fastest mile was recorded in the 2012 Group III Golden Mile at Menangle in Sydney when he was nosed out by Captain Joy in 1:51.4. He was known by the name Lincoln Royal in Australia.
5. AT THE REINS: One for the trivia fans - how many drivers did Sir Lincoln have in his 57-start career? Maurice McKendry was Linc’s pilot throughout his career but he was MIA four times when the horse was handled by James Stormont, Ken Barron and Blake Fitzpatrick (twice).
6. WINNERS KEEP COMING: In only his third season with runners on the track, Sir Lincoln has already sired the winners of 30 races despite having limited numbers to represent him. Last season in New Zealand alone he had 16 winners from only 39 starters and this term he already has six winners from just 18 starters.
7. SOMEBEACH SOME RAP: Breeding buffs made a beeline for Sir Lincoln after superstar racehorse and stallion Somebeachsomewhere had to be put down with cancer. Sir Lincoln is 7/8th bred on the same cross as Somebeachsomewhere - by Mach Three out of a Beach Towel mare who is in turn out of a Cam Fella mare.
8. DISCOUNT FOR LOYALTY: Broodmare owners are returning to Sir Lincoln in droves. Taken by the attractive foals he is leaving, many book straight back to the Alabar-based sire and take advantage of Lincoln Farms’ loyalty scheme which cuts his service fee in half to just $1250 plus GST.
9. TIME BEST FRIEND: Sir Lincoln’s progeny are mirroring the sire’s own start on the racetrack, benefitting from a little time to mature. The best the horse himself could manage as a two-year-old was one third from four starts but he was a different animal at three, winning four of his first five starts.
10. MEGASTAR’S FREAK DEATH: A freak accident claimed the life of valuable broodmare Lincoln’s Megastar, a full sister to Sir Lincoln. The mare, who opened her career with a nine and a half length walloping at Auckland, was retired after six wins, but left only one foal. She was killed when crushed by a fallen tree in a violent storm. Woodlands Stud has another full sister in two-year-old Moonlighting who is in training with Ray Green.