At the weights the Lincoln Farms St Leger looks a tough ask for Kamanda Lincoln

He’s badly off in the weights and he hasn’t won a race for 16 months but trainer Lisa Latta still believes Kamanda Lincoln can run a bold race in Saturday’s $50,000 Lincoln Farms New Zealand St Leger, a race sponsored by the horse’s owners John and Lynne Street.

Kamanda Lincoln might have run only fourth in last week’s lead-up race at Trentham, but Latta saw what she wanted from the horse as he hit the line hard over 2200 metres.

“He was doing his best work in the last 100 metres - it was a much improved effort - and the step-up to 2600 metres will really suit him.”

Kamanda Lincoln doesn’t boast a good strike rate with only four wins from 43 starts but his last success was over 2500 metres, at Riccarton in November, 2018.

And while he has placed only once in 20 starts since, he showed with his game and unlucky sixth in Soleseifei’s Wellington Cup that he is competitive over the extreme distances.

“That run, when he was held up in the straight, showed he is capable of mixing it with our best stayers. He strikes some good stayers here - we all know how good Glory Days is - but I am happy with him.”

Kamanda Lincoln, however, doesn’t come out on the right side of the ledger if you analyse the weights.

Glory Days, last year’s Avondale and Auckland Cup winner will carry 56kg, only 1kg more than Kamanda Lincoln.

And he meets last week’s winner Sergeant Blast 3.5kg worse off, and third-placed Sampson 2kg worse off. Sampson, with 56kg, carries only half a kilo more than he did last year when he won the St Leger by a whopping eight and a quarter lengths.

Nevertheless you had to be impressed by the ground Kamanda Lincoln made up last Saturday after tailing the field and still being second last on straightening, unleashing a final 600 metres in 35.04.

Kamanda Lincoln claims a fourth in the St Leger two years ago behind Daytona Red, Felaar and Bizzwinkle.

Lincoln Hills … needs to be held up for the very last run at them. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.Lincoln Hills faces some sharp up-and-comers in the fourth race but can get some it with a top Leith Innes ride.

“When he performs to his best and things go his way he is a very good horse,” says Latta.

“He has drawn well, which is a big plus, and hopefully Leith can get a good run just in behind the speed.

“The 1400 metres at Trentham is right at the end of his range so Leith will have to hold him up and come with the very last run.”

Even an economical run behind the speed might not be enough to get Princess Amelie home in the Lightning, the seventh race for the open sprinters.

The speedy mare hasn’t raced since Boxing Day and is a fresh-up winner but she badly needs the fire out of the ground to produce her best.

Princess Amelie is unbeaten in two starts over 1200 metres at Trentham but needs an easing of the track. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.“The track is currently a dead 5, which is just what she is looking for, however the forecast is good through ‘til Saturday so it will improve. Her best runs have been in the dead range and she has disappointed on the real firm tracks.”

Princess Amelie’s excellent third behind Sheezallmine and Sensei in the Stewards at Riccarton last November came on dead 5 footing and her opening two wins this term were on heavy tracks.

She has raced twice at Trentham over 1200 metres and won both times - on dead 5 and heavy 11 footing.

Princess Amelie, who has drawn six, strikes a very strong field with Shadows Cast, Enzo’s Lad and Sensei at the top of the handicap and another eight in-form runners sharing the same weight of 53kg.