Aussie bookies running scared of Lincoln Farms’ pair for Brisbane winter features
By Barry Lichter • 1 May 2019
Northview Hustler hasn’t even arrived in Brisbane yet and he has the Aussie bookies running scared.
Lincoln Farms’ flagship pacer has opened third favourite at just $5 in the bookies’ early futures market for the winter Queensland feature, the $A200,000 The Blacks A Fake Championship (2680m) on July 20.
The bookies are likely taking note of the success of stablemate Trojan Banner, who is unbeaten in five starts since arriving in Queensland and has also opened third favourite for the $A100,000 Queensland Derby (2680m) the same night.
Trainer Al Barnes was surprised to see his stable star as short as $4.50 for the late season feature given he has yet to tackle the leading local three-year-olds.
And Hustler’s high rating is also a shock as he has won only one of his seven starts this season.
Bookies have him clearly ahead of 2018 Miracle Mile winner My Field Marshal ($9), who failed in both the Sunshine Sprint and Blacks A Fake in Brisbane last year and Tim Butt stablemate Let It Ride ($11), who won the Blacks A Fake in 2018 but hasn’t been at his best since.
Former Lincoln Farms’ pacer Lincoln Road, who has won nine races in Brisbane for Barnes since arriving five months ago, is also on the fourth line of betting at $11.
Lochinvar Art, who is a $3 favourite for the derby, has yet to miss a place in 19 starts, winning 10 of them.
Third in both the Victoria and New South Wales Derbies, he has not raced since winning the Gold Chalice Final (2260m) at Bathurst on March 29.
Second favourite Max Delight has not been seen since March 16 when he won the Tasmanian Derby.
He was a sensational winner of the New South Wales Derby two starts back at Menangle when he beat Malcom’s Rhythm and Lochinvar Art, clocking a mile rate of 1:51.5 for the 2400 metres.
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Little Missy Lincoln can stand up for herself in Young Guns fillies’ heat on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: The Night Fox
5.44pm
“From a good front line draw Harry can run off the gate and find the front. He’s shown he’s got the speed to get there. And if he can go 2:42 again, or quicker, I thought he’d be a very good winning chance. It’s an easier field than the one he beat last time. He’s trained well this week.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
6.09pm
“She goes down to Cambridge for the first time so it’s a big drop in class. She also goes a lot better left-handed so I thought from the good draw she could run top three.”
Race 3: Lincoln Maree
6.34pm
“She paced a 1:56.7 mile in beating the amateurs last start but it looks like she’ll need a bit of luck from the draw this time. The two inside her like to lead so she could end up three fence or outside them. I’ll leave it up to Harry to get the right trip.”
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.34pm
“He’s a place chance. He likes bowling along but from five it’s hard to say where he’ll end up. He’s very consistent and he paced 2:42.3 last time so I can absolutely see him in the money.”
Race 6: Lincoln Linda
8.04pm
“She was in a very strong R40 to R48 race last time at Auckland against horses like Alecto, All Of Me and Cyclone Rebel, and she clocked 2:41.1, so back to Cambridge where she won her first race, and a much easier R38 to R40 field, she’s got to be a good winning chance. She’s best in front if Fergie can get there.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
4.42pm
“I’m not holding my breath with him. We won’t count that last run, when the leader went ballistic and he couldn’t get into the race, but he’s not well placed here.”
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.09pm
“She’s racing really well and this looks a bit easier than last time when she was trapped in the breeze in a strong field. I can’t see how she won’t be right in the fight.”
Race 7: Missy Lincoln
7.34pm
“I didn’t know what to expect on debut but she was very brave. I’m picking she’ll go well again but she’ll need a bit of luck - drawn the second line we’re at the mercy of others. We’ll poke her out and see. At least she won’t get parked this time.”
Race 10: Lincoln Wave
9.07pm
“We’re racing the best horses now but he’ll definitely go better than last time. Tony (Herlihy) said he felt super across the top but once in the straight he flattened out, which I half expected. I had him scoped afterwards just to make sure he was all right but he was short of a run, that’s all.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
9.07pm
“He went super when third last week and Fergie said just wait ’til he gets over 2700 metres, he’ll be a monster. He’s turned into a proper racehorse. From four there’ll be a bit of urgency early and hopefully he can get a suck along and get some of it.”
