Back to a mobile, Lincoln Wave’s drawn to lead and win at Cambridge on Friday night

A return to a mobile start should see Lincoln Wave return to the winner’s circle at Cambridge on Friday night.

Co-trainer Ray Green’s hopes that the talented Downbytheseaside colt would handle his first starting start at Auckland last week were dashed when he galloped away, losing all chance.

But the way the horse performed afterwards gave Green plenty of confidence that the colt is racing well enough to immediately bounce back to form.

Despite being forced six wide round the home turn when trying to mount a run from the rear, Lincoln Wave still clocked the second fastest last 800 metres in 56.

“It was a non-event last time and he’s a good horse who will be vying for the lead from five and deserves to be favourite.”

The last time Lincoln Wave tackled 1700 metres at Cambridge, in a Sires’ Stakes Semi Final on April 10, he pounced out of the trail to nail Cyclone Rebel in a sizzling 1:53.3 mile rate.

Sugar Ray Lincoln has enjoyed an easy week to freshen up.Green expects Lincoln Wave to be too sharp for his stablemate Sugar Ray Lincoln, who starts from one spot wider in six.

Sugar Ray Lincoln beat Lincoln Wave home last week, coming from three back on the outer for sixth, 5.3 lengths behind Little Spike.

“Peter (Ferguson) said he didn’t feel as sharp as in the past so I’ve given him a little freshen-up with a light week and he should go better.”

Sugar Ray Lincoln had raced in each of the previous seven weeks, often performing with credit despite rough trips.

Prince Lincoln’s form in the second race is looking a little sketchy now but, drawn two, Green says we could see a better result on Friday.

“If the real Prince turned up he’d absolutely be hard to beat.”

Last week, Prince Lincoln showed nothing when eased out of the one-one to challenge. “But that’s what he does. If he leads, he’s a different horse.”

Green believes you can make a good case for Rivergirl Bella in the opener.

The Lazarus filly got back from gate five at Auckland last week but mounted a strong home stretch run, clocking closing sectionals of 56.2 and 28, the second fastest in the race and better than winner Mama’s Wish.

“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).”

Shadow roll for Major

Green also expects to see more from Major Copy in the third race after a seemingly disappointing seventh on debut.

“But Maurice just nursed him around. He was stepping over tyre marks on the track so he didn’t want to launch him into the open too soon.”

Green said Major Copy wore a nose brush last time, because of his tendency to see things on the ground, but he was still able to see through the headgear.

“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. “Maurice was otherwise pretty happy with his first run as he got back and they only roared up the staight.”

Drawing three on the second row in the same race could be a problem for Jessie Lincoln, says Green.

The Lather Up filly won friends with her gutsy second behind The Last Yarn on the course two weeks ago after covering a huge amount of extra ground, three and four wide when trying to improve from the back. She was still coming at the finish and missed by only a head.

“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.”

Spirit Of God, fourth behind Jessie Lincoln last time, has the same second line draw to contend with in the fifth race.

“You never know with second line draws but it’s usually a decent impairment. She did a bit early (from a wide draw) last time and was still there at the finish so she’s going to win a race.”

After sprinting out of the gate, Harrison Orange managed to slot Spirit Of God into the trail and she was right there at the post, challenging up the passing lane, missing by only a head, neck and half a head.

“She got tired late and started hanging a bit (hitting a marker) but I thought she went OK.”

Lincoln Dealer did a lot wrong on debut but will be launched out of the gate. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Lincoln Dealer gets a much more competitive draw in four in the same race but will be long in the market after beating only one home on debut.

The stewards’ report reflected the job the stable has had in getting him to the races - “broke shortly after the start but soon settled. A warning was placed on the gelding’s barrier manners. Raced wide without cover from the 1300m then four wide from the 800m. Hung inwards despite the efforts of Zachary Butcher, checking an inside runner then broke losing all chance passing the 400m. A warning was placed on this runner’s racing manners.”

“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,” Green said. “Maurice will launch him and see where he ends up.”

Lincoln Maree, one of two for Lincoln Farms in the seventh race, is the opposite, a reliable filly who never runs a bad race, according to Green.

“She has a big motor for a little filly and should be right in the fray.”

Lincoln Maree, who moves in to four after the early scratching of Amaretto Delight, ran a fine fourth at Cambridge two weeks ago, pacing 2:42.05, beaten only two necks and half a length after making a solo wide run to improve from the back.

Angelic Copy, who gets in to six on the arm, was left flat-footed last week at Auckland when her rivals dawdled and only sprinted home.

“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.”