Back to day racing over a mile, Al’s confident we’ll see the real Lincoln’s Girl on Tuesday
Forget the form line, Lincoln’s Girl is a strong winning chance back to her own grade at Albion Park on Tuesday.
And just as importantly as the huge drop in class, is the fact the speedy filly returns to mile racing - during the day.
Though she runs in the final race at 6.21pm local time, it will still be light, the most crucial factor for Lincoln’s Girl, says trainer Al Barnes.
“She’s very highly hung and just seems to go to pieces under lights when the atmosphere is a bit different.
“Nerves get to her and she pulls too hard and chokes down.
“Her half brother Lincoln Road was the same, he really struggled at night when he first came over. The mare seems to breed hot types.”
Barnes says Lincoln’s Girl will eventually get used to it the more she goes round but at the moment the key to her is finding day races over 1660 metres.
Lincoln’s Girl (Hayden Barnes) clocking 1:53.3 at Albion Park in May. PHOTO: Dan Costello.In her last two starts Lincoln’s Girl was out of her comfort zone tackling the best company over 2138 metres in the Queensland Oaks and South East Oaks.
And even though she had her preferred 1660 metre distance in the two starts before that it was again in far stronger company in the heats and final of the Rising Stars.
On Tuesday she reverts to a rating 50 to 55 event and goes in as equal top rater, along with Ask Me and Havana Moon.
While drawn three on the second line, Lincoln’s Girl showed she could overcome that in a trial last Tuesday when she came three wide from the back to find the chair before forging to the front 800 metres from home and beating nine-race winner Bettor Vision comfortably in a 1:55.8 mile rate.
“She’s done well since the trial and I’m confident she’ll be very competitive. She’ll show how good she is.
“How many three-year-old fillies can run 1:53.3 over a mile, sitting in the chair, and do it comfortably?
“I’m surprised she hasn’t sold already given what she’s done but she’ll get back into consistent form again - and then the price will go up!”
Lincoln’s Girl was the seventh highest stake earner for Lincoln Farms in the season just ended, banking $21,127 from four wins.
Lincoln’s Girl races at 8.21pm NZ time at Albion Park on Tuesday.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.03pm
“He’s had a decent spell and is looking in good nick and I think he should be competitive on Friday as he’s fairly forward. He’s not one who takes a lot to screw down so I’m picking he’ll come to it pretty quickly.”
Race 3: Colonel Lincoln
6.03pm
“He’s training down well enough. The draw’s probably got him covered but he’ll go an honest race. He’s been outclassed a few times but he very rarely goes a bad race.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.54pm
“He had surgery to correct an epiglottal entrapment and will probably need the run. I wouldn’t say he’s on top of his game yet but he’s drawn well (one) and steps well so I’m picking he’ll get a nice trip. He’s up there in the grades now but hopefully he’s good enough to get a cheque.”
Race 9: Ultimate Cullect
8.54pm
“She locked on a rein at Cambridge and Andre couldn’t get her to go down into the passing lane. He said she was travelling well at the time. She’ll find this tough and needs a solid pace to be of any effect. A sit and sprint is no good for her.”

