Bug takes Lincoln Farms babies out and Cambridge has snotty noses and coughs too
By Barry Lichter • 1 February 2022
The annual round of bugs has hit northern stables with Lincoln Farms forced to withdraw Frankie Major, Lincoln River and Beaudiene Rocknroll from racing at Auckland on Thursday night.
And further south in Cambridge, snotty noses and coughs are also appearing, Nicky Chilcott taking out talented trotter Sacred Mountain from her engagement at Alexandra Park after she was scoped and was full of mucous.
Co-trainer Andrew Drake says he noticed all was not well with the two-year-olds before they were due to work this morning and he called a vet to check them out.
“Nearly all the horses on the farm have crusty noses now. Superfast Ninja isn’t that bad yet but I might end up having to scratch her too.
“It happens every year with the heat and the dust. Hopefully it will last only a short time and the two-year-olds will be good to go next week.” A $20,000 Young Guns heat is carded on Magic Millions night, Saturday February 12.
Drake says at least the two-year-old’s symptoms appeared before the races, rather than having them perform below their best, which is what happened to some of the team at Cambridge last week.
“We found after his race that Bet On The Tiger had a virus.”
Just 79 horses are carded to run at Auckland on Thursday night.
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Ray’s comments
Wednesday at Cambridge
Race 3: Spiritual Bliss
1.10pm
“You can’t fault what she’s done up here and she’s trained on really well since Manawatu. She seems to have a good motor and can carry her speed a long way. It’s a bit of a step-up on Wednesday, and she’s drawn out a bit, but she should be right in the fray.”
Race 4: Lincoln Lover
1.45pm
“It’s a huge drop in class for him on what he’s been racing. The Purdon horse Crippa Max looks the one to beat on his trial but I’m picking we’ll finish in the first three at worst. He’s very honest and does nothing wrong.”
Race 6: Lincoln Downs
2.55pm
“She got skittled early last time when one galloped in front of her, and that didn’t help. It would be nice to see her get a good trip, with no incidents, and see what she can do. She’s no superstar but she tries hard.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
4.31pm
“It’s his first race for more than four months and I’m picking he’ll need the run. It was a toss-up whether we went to the trials, but he’d probably have had no opposition, so it made sense to drop him in here. He’s training well and seems in good shape but whatever he does, he’ll improve on.”
