Draw against Jessie Lincoln on debut but she’s the best of the four fillies in Lincoln green

Co-trainer Ray Green isn’t expecting Jessie Lincoln to emulate the early feats of her half-sister Coastal Babe but he’s still hoping for a bold showing when she debuts at Cambridge on Friday night.

The Lather Up filly looks clearly the best of Lincoln Farms’ four runners in the eighth race, judging by her recent trials, but she hasn’t been a push-button winner like Steven Reid’s former star.

Coastal Babe won the Group I Caduceus and Harness Million in her first four starts as a two-year-old and went on to bag the Harness Million and Victoria Oaks as a three-year-old.

Jessie Lincoln ($8, $2.15), on the other hand, has taken time to reach the racetrack, Green pointing to her size and propensity to make silly breaks in her last preparation.

“She’s always been a good pacer and now that she’s had a decent spell and is a lot stronger she hasn’t put a foot wrong this time.

“She’s training well and both her recent workout and trial were very good.”

In a tame first workout at Pukekohe on October 21, Jessie Lincoln dashed late to beat True Colours, home in 61.3 and 29.4.

Eight days later she handled the increased tempo well, leading out then trailing runaway winner Nazare, who went on to impressively win her debut for Arna Donnelly last week.

Jessie Lincoln is a big filly who has needed time. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.“She’s a big filly but so far, so good. There are a few negatives, like the second row draw and it being her first time under lights, but I think she could go quite well. It’s not a wonderful lot against her.”

Jessie Lincoln cost just $3500 as a weanling in May, 2023, before Coastal Babe hit the racetrack, and hails from a big winning family which includes All U Need Is Faith (42 wins, 1:49.4, US$706,250), Pacing Major (31 wins, 1:52, $692,661), Nad (29 wins, US$236,210), Chatham Grace (24 wins, US$123,157) and Pazam (22 wins, $136,113).

While her dam Jessie’s Girl did not race her grand dam Jessie’s Cullen won nine races.

Jessie Lincoln will be raced by John and Lynne Street, Ian Middleton, the Green Machine Racing Syndicate, the Red & Blue Syndicate and Glenn and Ann Cotterill.

Green says he’s not holding his breath over Lincoln Farms’ three other fillies in Friday night’s race.

“They’ll all be needing a bit of luck. Lincoln Downs went the best of them last time and could improve.”

Three deep on the markers, Lincoln Downs ($31, $4.80) was hampered on the home turn and not helped by driver Monika Ranger dropping her whip 600 metres from home.

“Lincoln’s Spice ($17, $3.30) over-raced early and burned herself out,” Green said explaining why the American Ideal filly dropped out so quickly on the home bend.

“She’s a delicate little thing but we’ll put some plugs in her this week. Last time in I thought she could be the best of them. Whether the others have caught her up or she’s gone backwards I don’t know.”

Sweet Lou filly Lincoln Maree ($23, $4) showed no speed when resuming, slow away, trailing the field, and losing touch 500 metres out.

Im Not The Maid ($51, $8) gets the pole in the fifth race but looks tested against much better performed rivals.

The mare showed a little improvement when fifth at her last start in a heat of the world drivers’ championship at Cambridge.

“Gary Hall said she was a bit stop-start but he cut corners and wasn’t too far away at the finish. He reckoned his toe rope broke at the top of the straight.”