Lincoln’s Girl unleashes nice sprint in preparation for Cambridge
Lincoln’s Girl looked well primed to resume at Cambridge on Thursday night when she unleashed a nice late sprint at the Pukekohe workouts today.
Driver Zachary Butcher restrained Lincoln’s Girl to the rear of the five-horse field, was still there 200 metres from home, and flashed home wide out with an impressive turn of foot to finish a close-up fourth.
With winner Gooddealehemily credited with a 27.3 last quarter, Lincoln’s Girl must have clocked 27 or better.
Lincoln’s Girl, winner of two of her four starts, has not raced for four and a half months but after five workouts this preparation, she looks ready to rumble.
Stablemate Abraham led out in the same 2050 metre heat, then trailed, but weakened in the run home and, while shaken up by Andre Poutama, ran last.
Beaudiene all the way
Beaudiene Western looked very sharp in his 2050 metre heat. Sent to an early lead, he sprinted five lengths clear 400 metres from home and held on well to beat the fast-finishing Ivana Flybye. His overall time was 2:36.4, with his closing sectionals in 58 and 27.9.
Mathew not all the way
Mathew James contested a 2050 metre qualifying trial and got out well from three on the gate to lead. He was under pressure turning for home when challenged and only battled into third behind Diamondsrbettor. He still paced 2:37.1, five seconds under the qualifying time.
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Sugar Ray signals start of good year ahead with tough win; blinkers for Lincoln Wave
Winners and losers in dates for the new season - your month by month harness guide
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
4.52pm
“She did a good job last week at Auckland. Throwing her in the deep end seems to have toughened her up a bit. She’s getting stronger all the time. This is a big drop in class and she’s a chance from a better gate (three).”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.20pm
“If the real Prince turned up he’d absolutely be hard to beat. If he leads, as he should do from two, he’s a different horse.”
Race 3: Major Copy
5.54pm
“Maurice just nursed him around on debut. He was stepping over tyre marks on the track so he didn’t want to launch him into the open too soon. We’ll put a shadow roll on him this time to stop that and I can see him going a lot better from the inside draw.”
Race 3: Jessie Lincoln
5.54pm
“I’m not saying she can’t win but it will be hard for Fergie to find a good trip from the draw. She’ll need a lot of luck but she can be right in it if things go her way as she’s training well.”
Race 5: Lincoln Dealer
6.49pm
“He’s been a slow developing horse and you can’t drive him pretty, he won’t let you, as he’s a bit of a hot head. Maurice will launch him and see where he ends up.”
Race 5: Spirit Of God
6.49pm
“She got tired late last time and started hanging a bit (hitting a marker) but I thought she went OK. She did a bit early (from a wide draw) and was still there at the finish so she’s going to win a race. You never know with second line draws but it’s usually a decent impairment.”
Race 7: Lincoln Maree
7.40pm
“She never runs a bad race. She has a big motor for a little filly and should be right in the fray.”
Race 7: Angelic Copy
7.40pm
“Maurice said she foundered a bit when they took off, and got three or four lengths behind, but she didn’t lose any more ground after that and held her place. So the run wasn’t as bad as it looked and she’ll be improved.”
Race 8: Lincoln Wave
8.14pm
“It was a non-event last time (from a stand) and he’s a good horse who will be vying for the lead from five and deserves to be favourite.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.14pm
“Peter (Ferguson) said he didn’t feel as sharp last week as in the past so I’ve given him a little freshen-up with a light week and he should go better.”

