Bang! Lincoln Wave’s tyre blows out, startling rival drivers but Alabar win would shock more

With Jumal and Freeze Frame against him, Lincoln Farms’ co-trainer Ray Green isn’t expecing Lincoln Wave to arrive with a big bang in Friday night’s $60,000 Alabar Classic.

But a big bang is exactly what stopped his unbeaten winning streak at Alexandra Park last time when, 1100 metres from home, the tyre on his near side sulky wheel popped so loudly it had drivers all around him looking so see what had made such an explosion.

In the photo above you can see Lincoln Wave’s driver Tony Herlihy looking down at his wheel, inside him Peter Ferguson on Dave Duley looks across and up ahead both leader Andre Poutama on Rushkinoff and trailer Zachary Butcher on Chanel Noire turn around in surprise.

The sulky Lincoln Wave used last start, showing the blown tyre off the rim.The punctured tyre ended any hope the talented Downbytheseaside three-year-old had of notching a hat-trick, Herlihy allowing him to drop out from the 150 metre mark after a tough trip in the death seat.

“You just have to forget about his last start and assess him on the previous two runs,” Green said.

But Green knows Lincoln Wave ($41, $4.40), while very promising, will find his Alabar opposition a lot tougher than the R37 to R47 field he faced last time.

“We’re not expecting a huge effort from him - he’s on his way back up after a five-week break and there’s a fair bit of improvement in him.

“But I think he’s a very nice horse and I’m not afraid to front up to the good ones with him. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he got into it, even from five. We still don’t really know what we’ve got with him.

“But whatever he does on Friday night will tidy him up for the next one.”

Lincoln Wave’s immediate target is the $200,000 Harness Millions the following Friday when he will also clash with Friday night’s main opposition, the freakish Jumal ($1.40), Freeze Frame ($4.80) and Allamericanplayer ($6.50).

“Other than those three, the rest look on a par and I’m sure he won’t disgrace us.”

Lincoln Wave had a very quiet workout on March 3, not pulled out by driver and co-trainer Nathan Delany, the leaders home in 57.3 and 27.6.

Green admits he’s “testing the water” with stablemate Johnny Lincoln ($31, $3.70) who lands the better alley of the pair.

“Johnny is a proper racehorse and, drawn one, he won’t be far off them. I can’t see him beating those others but he’s a little tradesman who is a worthy candidate for the race.”

After completing a hat-trick at Auckland in January and February, Johnny Lincoln went another excellent race for fourth last time to Allamericanplayer, sitting parked yet still only a neck and half a head behind talented placegetters Queen Lizzy and Princess Gracy.

Jessie Lincoln has strengthened during her break. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Close to a win

Lincoln Farms’ third rep for the night, Jessie Lincoln ($4.60, $1.70) isn’t far from a win, says Green.

“This is her first run back and first at the Park but I’m expecting her to be very competitive.”

Jessie Lincoln had two runs at Cambridge in her first campaign last November, running a bold and close third on debut and finishing a brave fifth in her second run after sitting parked.

A half sister to Steven Reid’s former classy filly Coastal Babe, Jessie Lincoln returned on March 3 with an eye-catching win over the very capable War Cry at the Pukekohe workouts.

“It was a nice trial and she seems pretty good. I think she’ll be in the money.

“She’s a much stronger individual after her break - the big ones tend to take a little longer to make.

“I like her. She’ll be winning races for sure.”

Jessie Lincoln, a bargain $3500 weanling, is raced by John and Lynne Street, Ian Middleton, the Green Machine Racing Syndicate, the Red & Blue Syndicate and Glenn and Ann Cotterill.