Bargain Lincoln Valley a winner in waiting - all he needs is a more economical trip

Bargain buy Lincoln Valley needs only a better trip than last start to go close at Trentham on Saturday.

The four-year-old had a torrid run in only his second start, at Wairarapa on January 2, caught three wide near the speed all the way and flushed four and five wide turning for home.

Lincoln Valley rallied bravely in the home stretch and even though chopped out of a gap 70 metres from home, when rider Lisa Allpress had to take hold, he still finished only a nose, three-quarters of a length and two necks from the winner.

Trainer Lisa Latta said the effort was good enough for Allpress to rate the horse a winner in waiting, and he looks to have struck a winnable race in the opener at Trentham, again over 1000 metres.

“Lisa liked him,” Latta said. “He did the hard yards all the way and was only a length and a half away at the finish.

“I’ve been really happy with him since - his work has been really good - and the big, roomy track will suit him.”

Latta says Allpress will have learned a lot about the horse and, from barrier six, should be able to go forward and secure a spot in what doesn’t look to be a strong line-up.

“I have also added a nasal strip as he is quite a noisy breather and it may help.”

Lincoln Valley, who won a trial at Woodville in November, cost Lincoln Farms’ boss John Street just $10,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s ready-to-run sale in 2019, Latta saying he was attracted by the horse’s sire Pins.

While the entire’s pedigree is thin, his two-race winning dam Repulse Bay is a three-quarter sister to Silver Eclipse (5 wins). His third dam Zino Belle, who won the Gold Trail Stakes, left seven winners.

Lincoln Valley’s biggest threats look to be the horse who cut him off at his last start, Shez Maleficent, and recent trial winner Vishakha, who has placed in eight of her 14 starts, often with little luck.

Platinum Spirit scored his first win at Trentham. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.Lincoln Farms’ two other runners at the meeting are Platinum Spirit, who is trying to force a place in Saturday week’s Wellington Cup, and Father Lenihan, who is likely to continue his racing in the South Island soon.

Latta is hoping Platinum Spirit can earn some rating points in the Summer Cup (race 7) as he sits on 22nd ranking for the $300,000 cup on January 29.

“He looks fantastic, I can’t fault him, and the step-up to 2400 metres on Saturday will help him.”

Platinum Spirit will carry 55.5kg, down from the 60kg he had to lump when third at Otaki at his last start on January 5.

“He seems to go better races with less weight even though the opposition is tougher.”

Seven-year-old Father Lenihan hasn’t won a race for two years and three months and Latta says it will be good to have Robbie Hannam back on as he has ridden the horse in three of his four wins and will be able to provide valuable feedback.