Beautifully bred Lincoln River just needs a decent trip to open his account at Cambridge

Lincoln River needs only a better trip than his last start to break through for his first win at Cambridge on Thursday night.

The beautifully bred colt, who by champion sire Bettor’s Delight out of New Zealand Oaks winner Ideal Belle came with a $120,000 price tag, could run only eighth on his last visit to the Waikato two weeks ago.

But from the inside of the second row, driver Maurice McKendry quickly found himself buried four deep and, while he managed to extricate Lincoln River down the back straight, he ended up four wide for the last 500 metres, swinging so wide round the home turn his task was impossible.

Despite that, and laying in at the 150 metre mark, Lincoln River’s closing sectionals of 57.55 and 28.55, on a slushy track, compared very favourably with those who enjoyed runs close to the marker pegs.

The colt showed in his previous start at Auckland that he was close to a win when pouncing out of the one-one to run second to The Bizzness in a much stronger field than he meets this week.

Lincoln River showed he was right on his game when winning at the Pukekohe workouts last Friday, driver Andrew Drake easing out to park 800 metres from home before landing the one-one and finishing over the top of his rivals in the run home.

Lincoln Farms’ stable junor Monika Ranger takes the reins on Thursday night and, with the scratching of Commander Lincoln, comes in to five on the gate.

“He should be ready to win a race now,” said trainer Ray Green. “Monika drives well and he’s not hard to drive. He’s the best chance we’ve got.”

Whiz On Bye’s sole placing so far was at Cambridge.Green says just getting to the races is a major achievement in itself for Whiz On Bye who goes from the pole for McKendry in the third race.

The American Ideal three-year-old has had a succession of setbacks this season including a cracked hoof, which took time to grow out, a foot abscess caused by a stone bruise, and a virus.

Whiz On Bye will be having only his second race since January, and first for two months, but he has been improving in work and ran an even fourth at the workouts last week behind race rival and likely favourite D J Rock.

“He’s got enough speed to take advantage of the pole,” says Green. “And with a good trip I could see him in the money.”

Green believes Major Grace will need a hot pace to feature in the fifth race where she leaves from the niggly five draw.

“She never got into the race last time - she was always on the fence and when they sprinted she just held her place.

“She’s got to be on the pace to get some money or, if they go really hard, she could go past the tiring ones.”

Riverboy Ben’s chances in race nine hinge on the pole runner Piiki Whara, whom he follows out from the inside of the second row.

The Jason and Megan Teaz-trained gelding has shown high gate speed in the past to lead and that opens the door for Riverboy Ben to trail, or be three back, if Piiki Whara hands up.

“He’s not going bad races,” says Green. “He’s limited but he’s been coming home as good as anything.”