It’s the Charge of the Light Brigade behind Lincoln’s Girl at Albion Park tonight.
Lincoln’s Girl oh so brave and Al tips that’s just the start of a winning roll
By Barry Lichter • 6 August 2019
Lincoln’s Girl surprised even trainer Al Barnes with her courageous win at Albion Park tonight when the finish was so close you could have thrown a blanket over the first nine home.
And so brave was the filly, Barnes now believes she can win another five or six races in the coming months for Lincoln Farms.
“She’s a lovely filly and tries so hard,” says Barnes. “I was really impressed with her tonight, I thought she was all out at the top of the straight.”
Barnes could have been forgiven for thinking the petrol tank would be empty turning for home after a brutal first half run in 55.7.
But it was the early burn that actually played into the hands of the highly strung filly, who, driven patiently by Hayden Barnes held her position until asked to sprint up three wide to lead at the bell.
It meant Lincoln’s Girl wasn’t pulling and over-racing, features of her recent racing over longer trips in the Oaks races.
“I knew she’d bounce back to form back in her right class as that’s her style of racing, out running and doing her own thing.”
But when Grant Dixon saw Barnes coming, he kicked up inside on Ark Me, knowing if he got to the front first, he’d earn a sweet trail behind the filly.
They’re coming from everywhere but Lincoln’s Girl holds on by two metres.Even with the extra exertion, Lincoln’s Girl still had plenty of fight up the straight, and she staved off a wall of attackers with eight horses lined across the track just behind her at the post, Ark Me and Hadley dead-heating for second and only noses back to Gold Reactor and Havana Moon.
Lincoln’s Girl, who paid $4.60 on the New Zealand tote, scored by two metres, clocking a slick 1:54.8 mile rate for the 1660 metres.
The game performance belied the fact Barnes spotted her pacing keenly in the warm-up, as darkness set in and the lights came on, a scenario he dreaded knowing she has a history of over-racing at night.
“But she’s getting better all the time and will only get better with more racing.
“She gets a mare’s concession of five points so is still on a pretty low rating and I think she can now go on and do what Trojan Banner did and win them in a row if I can find the right races for her.”
The A$4546 winning stake boosted Lincoln’s Girl’s earnings since she arrived in Queensland to A$25,673, a fine return for a filly who was considered weak when she arrived in the state earlier in the year.
And while Lincoln’s Girl might have a for sale sign on her, Barnes believes she will be worth even more money as she gets older and stronger.
“I’d love to keep her. I’d buy her myself if I had the money.”
The challengers are spread right across the track at the finish.
More news in Harness
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Ray doesn’t pull any punches about Sugar Ray but punters weigh in nonetheless
Partners and pedigree made Johnny Lincoln’s win special - but where was everyone?
Shunt and tangled tail hamper our Johnny - why he can win Friday’s Lincoln Farms Pace
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.”
