Lincoln Farms’ team struck by bug but this one looks OK to rocknroll at Cambridge
By Barry Lichter • 22 August 2023
Beaudiene Rocknroll will be the sole runner for Lincoln Farms at Cambridge on Thursday night, seemingly having dodged the bug that is doing the rounds at Pukekohe.
And, with the best draw of his fledgling nine-start career, trainer Ray Green is hoping he can visit the winner’s circle again, like he did on the course in June.
“We’ve got a bit of sickness here at the moment, with snotty noses, but he seems OK,” Green said.
“I haven’t done all their bloods but we know of seven or eight who have got it. The weather has been so changeable, as well as wet and cold, but luckily this bug hasn’t been as bad as usual.
“In the past it’s been quite debilitating, and has lingered for months, but this one seems to last only a couple of weeks.”
Green suspects the stable’s recent quiet run has reflected the pesence of the often invisible enemy with a number of below par runs from the likes of Simply Sam.
“Lincoln River has snot pouring out of him now too. He’s had some hard racing and when you stress them a bit they seem to pick it up easier.
“We’ve just got to back off them a bit but I can’t see any reason why not to race Beaudiene Rocknroll, he seems fine.
“Two is the best draw he’s ever had, and it’s only 1700 metres, so he’s a definite winning chance.”
The only time Beaudiene Rocknroll has drawn a decent alley in his nine starts was when he fibrillated at Auckland in June and was pulled up.
In his other eight starts he has started from five, six three times, nine twice, 11 and 12.
Given he led easily from six when winning at Cambridge five starts ago, he should have little trouble crossing the pole runner on Thursday.
And with talented front-running driver Andre Poutama in the hot seat again, Green can see the three-year-old being hard to run down.
Two weeks ago at Cambridge, after using plenty of petrol spearing out of the gate to lead, he hung in doggedly in the home stretch to run a close third to Miki Miksta and Cyren Shard, clocking a respectable 2:43.9 for the 2200 metres in terrible conditions.
Beaudiene Rocknroll, who is raced by Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street, breeders Dave and Dawn Kennedy and Melbourne’s Merv and Meg Butterworth, had an interrupted start to his career when, after just two races at two, he broke a pedal bone and had to be spelled for six months.
He is a half brother to 22-race winner Beaudiene Bad Babe.
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Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.14pm
“She went pretty well last week considering they came a fast last half (56.3) and she sat parked from the 800. She’s back to the amateur grade, and should get a good run from the two draw, so hopefully we can get a bit of cash.”
Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
6.38pm
“She didn’t handle the right-handed bends at Auckland last week (galloping at the 300) so we’ll stick to Cambridge from now on. There’s a bit of gate speed in the race so Harry (Harrison Orange) should be able to sit in somewhere. I think he’s a good chance to run top three.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.59pm
“He’s racing very well. He would have run second last week (to American Me) had he not spooked at the winning post. These are tidy horses he’s racing against but he’s holding his own.”
Race 1: Kevin Kline
5.59pm
“He’ll go better back to a mobile start. He did well to finish so close last week after a slow start than having to do all the donkey work when parked for the last lap. Maurice really likes him because he just puts him into cruise control and he keeps going.”
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.58pm
“She’s not as good as the other filly but some lift their game when the money’s up so maybe she can pick up a cheque.”
Race 3: Lincoln’s Spice
6.58pm
“She looks a pretty decent chance of winning. She’s a real little tradesman, does nothing wrong, is easy to handle, is a nice drive, tries hard, is great gaited and has the potential to get stronger.”
Race 5: Tyson
7.51pm
“We found out he raced with a virus last time. The next morning snot was pouring out his nose and that’s why he didn’t finish it off as well as we expected. He only whacked away in the run home. With that gone, he should race better.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
7.51pm
“I think he’ll be competitive and he’s the best of ours in the race. He won well last week and has trained on well. He’s promising. I couldn’t go as far as to say he’s a classic colt yet but we’ll find out soon enough.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.51pm
“He’s doing my head in. He had no excuse for breaking last week. Maurice (McKendry) didn’t blame the wet track. He said he was gliding along, travelling beautifully, when for no apparent reason he put in big steps. I’ll put a hood on him this time to see if it’s a nervous issue.”
Race 8: The Rascal
9.23pm
“All going well, he should win what is a poor maiden field. He’s elevated himself from the transfer list and is going well now. He doesn’t have huge gate speed, so he may not lead but he should get a good trip from one. On paper, he’s our best chance of the night.”
