Authentic Charm gets her chance on Friday from a good alley

At last, Authentic Charm has drawn an alley.

The Per Incanto mare landed gate four for the second race at Awapuni on Friday, just what trainer Lisa Latta was hoping for when she scratched her from today’s meeting at Tauherenikau because of a wide draw.

“We have given her two runs from barrier nine and it has meant she has had to do too much in the running to make up ground on the leaders.

“From four, hopefully Robbie (Hannam) can get a spot or two further forward so she won’t be giving the leaders such a big start.

“She has continued to work well and I am looking forward to seeing what she can do. This looks a nice race for her.”

Authentic Charm has run very good fifths in both starts this season:

• First-up at Wairarapa on January 2 she did well to close within two lengths of the winner, unleashing the fastest last 600 metres in the race of 34.07 despite pulling ferociously on a walkfest pace.
• And last time at Otaki on January 21, she had to be restrained from a wide draw and was held up rounding the turn and early in the run home before angling out across heels to finally get clear 200 metres out.

Fresh tactics

Latta has tried something a bit different with the out-of-form Lincoln Hills in the third race, taking him to the races without a trial.

Master Lincoln … should improve now he’s stepping up to 2100 metres. PHOTO: Royden Williams.“I know he’s been very disappointing but he’s always trialled well fresh. His first trial in particular has always been very good, so I thought we’d try him at the races while he’s still fresh.

“He galloped really well on Tuesday morning.

“Jonathan Riddell will go back from the wide draw and hopefully he can hit the line strongly.’’

Master Lincoln, another to run poorly last start, has a few things in his favour in the eighth race - he has the ace draw, he steps up to a middle distance, which he needs, and he has a senior rider in Jonathan Riddell aboard.

“I thought a claim might help him last time but he never raised a gallop. We’ve got a stronger rider on this time.’’

Two starts back Master Lincoln ran second at Wanganui with Johnathan Parkes aboard.