A Moose in his happy place is a fast Moose but programming hurdles lie ahead

Keeping Lincoln La Moose in his happy place is the key to getting the best out of him but driver Peter Ferguson fears our programming will soon force the horse offshore.

Fergie’s familiarity with Lincoln Farms’ speedy four-year-old helped him to a PB at Cambridge on Thursday night when he came from last to win in 2:40 flat for the 2200 metres.

Conscious that it was his first race for three and a half months, and that he had trialled only once, Fergie opted not to hunt Lincoln La Moose off the gate.

“I thought the way the race would probably unfold that rushing out wouldn’t be the best thing. And I was guided by the horse who was happy to come out quietly.

“Last prep he got a bit hot by going forward too often. And he came to the end of it. He’d had a lot of racing and started getting a bit angry.

“But he’s got ability and if he’s in his happy place he shows his full potential.”

Lincoln La Moose was still last at the bell when Fergie slotted onto the back of Rough And Ready for a one-one ride home.

And he still had four of five lengths to make up on clear leader Always B Charlie turning for home but unleashed a powerhouse sprint to collar him close to home and score by a length.

“It’s hard to come from the back like that at Cambridge. They came home in 28.2 so he’s gone a sub-28 quarter.”

But the win, his fifth for owners John and Lynne Street, Ian Middleton, the Green Machine Syndicate, the Blue and White Syndicate and Glenn and Ann Cotterill, takes him closer to a rating that will make it very difficult for him in New Zealand.

‘A lot more wins in him’

“There are a lot more wins in him but you’d think his future lies off shore,” Ferguson said.

Re-rated five points to R52, for just a $4400 winning stake, Lincoln La Moose will probably have to be driven by a claiming junior next start, like Always B Charlie on Thursday night. The race, for R47 to R50 pacers, was open to R51 to R55 horses only if driven by a concession junior.

“It’s hard for horses like him who aren’t so good right-handed. He struggles a bit on the bends and it’s a lot harder at Auckland too so where can he go?

“We’ve only got $8000 races at Cambridge every week. I say Manawatu can’t come quick enough.

“One more win and it’s going to be very hard to justify keeping him in New Zealand.”

Lincoln La Moose is certainly bred to win more races. By Art Major, his dam Cullens Princess was unraced but her grand-dam is the good producer Tosti Girl.

That makes Cullen’s Princess a half sister to New Zealand Cup winner Thefixer and the speedy 13-race winner The Honey Queen.

Lincoln La Moose took his stake earnings to $41,951 on Thursday night and trainers Ray Green and Nathan Delany to ninth equal on the premiership with 33 wins.