Loveable Rogue gets up inside Lincoln Lover near the finish but just fails to catch him. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.
Canny Fergie drive gets Lincoln Lover home at Taupo - and it won’t be his last win
By Barry Lichter • 27 January 2026
It might have taken Lincoln Lover 16 starts to break his duck but driver Peter Ferguson doesn’t think a step-up up in grade now will stop him.
The little Bettor’s Delight gelding showed plenty of grit to just prevail in a tight four-way finish at Taupo on Monday, his half head victory down to the canny skills of Ferguson who led but held the horse back to the field as long as possible.
“Matty was having trouble holding his one (Colonel) so I let him put his head in front but with no passing lane, I was trying to keep the field all boxed up,” Ferguson said.
The tactic worked and by the time James Stormont was able to squeeze through on the trailing Loveable Rogue it was too late.
“He wasn’t handling the (rain-affected) track 100% - he was rocking and rolling part of it - so I had to hold his head but we got there.”
Lincoln Lover gets a half-head call over Loveable Rogue, obscured, with Colonel and The Miki Taker close-up. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.Ferguson said Lincoln Lover, who had racked up five seconds before Taupo, will appreciate running against winners going at a faster tempo.
“Until now he’s had to make all his own luck. But if they run along, he’ll find the line so I don’t think the next grade will worry him.”
Lincoln Lover’s pedigree also suggests his winning isn’t done - he’s a half brother to the speedy nine-race winner Aramis (Sir Lincoln) who went to the States and paced 1:53.2.
Lincoln Lover’s bankroll hit $25,452 with the win, a decent early return for John and Lynne Street and their partners Paul Wyatt, Jason Deane and Brent Mulholland.
Newcomers Deane and Mulholland got involved through being the successful bidders on “half of a horse” put up by John Street at a charity auction.
Opting instead for 25% in two horses, they first went into Kevin Kline and, when he was sold after six wins, were transferred to Lincoln Lover.
They also have a share in a Bettor’s Delight two-year-old filly named Lincoln Gold who is a little sister of Lincoln Farms’ Lincoln Linda.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 5: Lincoln Lover
6.49pm
“You can’t fault what he’s done in his last four starts - he hasn’t missed a cheque. He’s raced at Auckland before as a two-year-old against good horses so it shouldn’t be too daunting for him. He’ll go an honest race, it’s just whether he’s good enough.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
7.57pm
Nathan Delany: “He had to trial on Tuesday after hitting the gate and breaking at Cambridge and I was happy with how he went. He ran Dear God to half a length in 2:38, and got home in 27.3. I’ll tell Harry to have one run at them and he should beat them for speed. Hopefully they run along a bit and he’ll sprint straight past them.”
Race 7: Lincoln Maree
7.57pm
“She lacks a bit of speed but she’s a rough chance.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
8.24pm
“It’s her first start for five months and she hasn’t trialled but she’s training well. She has plenty of ability and there’s nothing wonderful in the race. In the past she’s been her own worst enemy, a lunatic at times, but she seems more settled this time in. You could say I’m hopeful more than confident.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.24pm
“She has a bit of speed. She hasn’t been strong but seems to have developed a bit more this time in and is training quite well. I don’t think there’s much between her and Lincoln Linda.”
