Lincoln Farms has pair to be reckoned with in Friday’s race named in honour of the Streets
By Barry Lichter • 13 July 2023
Frankie Major and Lincoln River give Lincoln Farms a strong chance of winning the appropriately named Congratulations John and Lynne Street for 1000 wins Pace at Auckland on Friday night.
The race, in honour of the Streets unprecedented feat of winning 1000 harness and gallops races, features some up-and-coming types but while Frankie Major and Lincoln River are both disadvantaged in the ratings, they have the ability to go close.
Frankie Major’s 72787 formline might look poor but he has roughed it in some much better fields and comes into the race rejuvenated after a five-month break.
After three workouts, trainer Ray Green had been confident of a good showing when he entered the horse for Auckand two weeks ago.
But a precautionary blood test, taken with a few of his stablemates exhibiting signs of a virus, came back poorly so Green pulled him out.
“It showed he had a bit of virus, enough to know he wouldn’t race any good. We were still able to keep working him but he’s missed a trial so he could be a bit below par.
“But he doesn’t need a lot of work, there’s nothing in the field that’s better than him, and he has a good (three) draw.”
Lincoln River … two of his three wins have been at Auckland. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.If lack of race fitness beats Frankie Major, Lincoln River has that covered, having placed in each of his last five starts.
Last week at Cambridge, Lincoln River looked a big winning chance when he launched up the passing lane, only to be outfinished by the far higher rated New York Minute and Rough And Ready.
“He just flattened out that last bit,” Green said. “But it was a good effort being only a three-year-old against tough older horses.”
That race was for rating 50 to 70 pacers, while Friday’s event is capped at rating 58, with the two top rated runners Brookies Jaffa (R58) and Hooray Henry (R57) handicapped on the outside of the gate.
Lincoln River, drawn two on the second row, will need luck himself but Green says he’s pretty happy with the gelding.
“He’s holding his form well and should go another good race. Frankie might be slightly the faster horse but they’re two very different types.”
Incredibly, the two horses have almost identical records, both having won three races and run five seconds in 23 starts.
Green will be hoping for even just average luck for My Copy when he lines up two races earlier.
The four-year-old half brother to champion Copy That hasn’t seen daylight in his last two races, under forcible restraint from driver Fergus Schumacher down the stretch at Cambridge last week.
“He’s been very unlucky but he’s really good, the best he’s ever been.
“He’s raced over 2700 metres only once but I don’t see that as an issue. We’re just hoping for a bit more luck this time.”
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Spirited Belle
4.46pm
Delany: “I saw she’d been punted but somebody must know something we don’t as I’ve been working her myself and, while she feels all right and hasn’t put the boot in like at Auckland, I think she’ll need the run. She hasn’t got any high speed but feels like she will stay. She has improved a bit but I’d be surprised if she won.”
Race 1: Lincoln Maree
4.46pm
“It’s always hard from these draws but she’s a tough mare who will make her own luck at some stage. She’s going well enough - her drivers have all been happy - and she’s a little warrior who tries like hell.”
Race 2: Major Copy
5.12pm
“He’s only two and very inexperienced but he feels like a good colt and there’s a lot of improvement in him. He certainly caught a lot of people’s attention last time. I don’t know how good he is yet but he’ll be right there.”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.12pm
“If he can lead without having to do too much work I can’t see anything beating him. I thought he went great last start. He pressed the winner hard ’til the corner then just flattened out in the run home, but he had every reason to do that after all the work he’d done.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.12pm
“She’s been undone by bad draws. If she led easily from three she’d be hard to beat as she’s a good front-runner.”
Race 4: Spirited Peggy
6.12pm
“We’ve had her for only two weeks but she’s seven now and has had her chance to win one. She has a bit of speed but I think she gets pulling so we’ve got the Hidez (compression) hood on her and plugged her ears up.”
Race 6: Copy N Paste
7.10pm
“We won’t see the best of him for another six months. He’s been a slow developing horse but is improving all the time and getting stronger.”
Race 6: Jessie Lincoln
7.10pm
“If I was having a bet on one of them in the race it would be her. She deserves to win one. Her last two have been really good - she just ran into one who was a bit slicker last time in Major Copy.”
Race 6: Lincoln Dealer
7.10pm
“He’s a bit one-dimensional - you’ve got to feed him track and let him run - so the second row draw is a big handicap. To his credit I was surprised he finished so close last time after all the work he did. When he gets a decent draw and crosses them they’ll know they’re at the races. He’s got a big motor and tries hard.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.08pm
“She clawed her way to the front last time but had nothing left at the finish. That won’t happen this time and she should lead easily from one.”
Race 8: Angelic Copy
8.08pm
“She’s had terrible draws but has been going good races. The others last time were just better than her but this is a big drop in class. With the right trip she could get some of it at huge odds.”
Race 9: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.35pm
“He’s not quick away from a stand but he won’t muff it completely. He steps from the front line and Peter Ferguson was quite happy with his last run.”
Race 9: Lincoln Wave
8.35pm
“He bombed the stand the first time but to be fair all those horses were rushing up at him from the back and that panicked him a bit. He’s on 10 metres this time so that won’t happen.”
