Better draw and tighter hopples but Debbie Lincoln’s still paying 100-to-one in the Oaks

Co-trainer Ray Green has tightened up Debbie Lincoln’s hopples and is tipping her as a 100-to-one surprise packet in Friday night’s $225,000 New Zealand Pacing Oaks at Addington.

Debbie Lincoln’s chances in the Nevele R Fillies’ Final last start plummeted when her early attack stuttered as she started pacing roughly at 57.6 km/hr, faster than any other horse over the first 180 metres.

“She hadn’t raced left-handed for a while and they were flying early. Maurice (McKendry) said she put in a few steps when crossing over from her wide draw so he had to nurse her.

“Blair Orange, on Winelight, was trying to let him go but when he saw her flapping her legs, he decided she wasn’t a good one to follow.”

Debbie Lincoln still ran the second fastest first 400 metres in 26.74, three wide, where she was stuck for the remainder of the 1980 metre race.

“It was unfortunate she had to cop such a tough trip but she showed she is competitive - not many in the race could have done what she did. Maurice said if he’d pushed her out, she would have finished a bit closer but he did the right thing and sat on her.”

Approaching the first turn in the Nevele R Fillies’ Final and Debbie Lincoln paces roughly and misses getting into the running line as driver Maurice McKendry has to take hold.Debbie Lincoln finished only eight lengths from Celestial Sea, despite covering 11 metres further than the winner, and just one place behind second favourite Winelight, who was inside her throughout.

“I was pretty pleased with the way she went,” Green said. “It was a bitter, sweet result as I know she’s up with the best of them.”

Green has pulled up his filly’s hopples in training this week, to keep her on a more even keel, and says there have been no dramas.

“I can’t fault her. She recovered quickly from that last run and looks great. She’s no 100-to-one shot. All she needs is a bit of luck.

“There’s no standout in the field. They’re all much of a muchness and, whichever one gets the best trip, will be the hardest to beat. It’s all about the trip.”

From two on the second row this time, rather than wide on the front, Debbie Lincoln could get that much needed trip, following out the go-forward duo of Beside Me and Carter Dalgety.

It’s an opportunity new driver Peter Ferguson is sure to pounce on if it materialises, Fergy stepping in for McKendry who is staying in the north for a good book of drives.

“Ferg was coming down anyway to drive Crackerjack in Trotting Derby and I’m sure they can surprise a few.

“We know Debbie can go enough and I don’t think she’d need to improve to be a good chance.

“She’s fast and tough, so the 2600 metres won’t hold any fears. I think she’ll go pretty well.”