Leo Lincoln … “he feels like a good horse.”
Drop in class and draw upgrade points to Leo Lincoln earning a cheque at Cambridge
By Barry Lichter • 8 August 2023
Leo Lincoln looks well placed to earn his first cheque for Lincoln Farms at Cambridge on Thursday night.
While the two-year-old hasn’t flattered in three runs for trainer Ray Green at Auckland, he looks to have an easier assignment in the fifth race for his first visit to the Waikato.
“The drop in class and decent draw makes him a contender,” says Green.
Whereas Leo Lincoln has been handicapped by draws of nine and seven in two of his starts, he gets a significant upgrade to three this week.
“I’m sure he’ll get out OK and, barring bad luck, I’d like to think he can earn a cheque this time.”
Leo Lincoln finished eight lengths from winner Tualou last week, driver Andre Poutama doing a skilled job at negotiating heavy traffic before switching in for a run in the home straight.
“I thought he should have run on a bit better but he was beaten by much better horses than he meets this time.
“I thought he’d have done better by now because he feels like a nice horse but we probably chucked him in the deep end a bit soon.
“He struggled for a while but then he lifted his game almost overnight.”
Green is hoping Leo Lincoln can show the same sort of ability that his close relative Alta Intrigue produced for the stable a few years ago.
His dam Alta Valencia is a half sister to Alta Intrigue who racked up four races and 10 seconds for Green and was placed in the 2017 Northern Derby behind Raukapuka Ruler and Ultimate Machete before his sale to Western Australia were he won another 10 races.
Lincoln Cove … three wide with no cover for the entire trip last start. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Lincoln Cove (Downbytheseaside - Everlasting Grace), who comes from a prolific Woodlands Stud family himself, has yet to inspire in two runs but as Green points out he hasn’t really had a fair crack yet.
On debut, from an inside second row draw, he was last turning for home and passed three in the run home.
And last start, from seven, he was trapped three wide the entire way, with no cover.
“He’s been inconvenienced each time and from the second line draw he’ll need a bit of luck again.”
Green’s third runner on the night, Beaudiene Rocknroll, has another bad draw (seven) in the eighth race but Green hinted he’d be going foward from seven.
“He doesn’t like it in behind. He likes rolling along. That seems to be how he goes best.
“I’ll leave it to Andre but we’ll probably try to get handy if we can.”
Beaudiene Rocknroll’s best effort in eight starts was at Cambridge in June when he speared to the front from six and cleared out to win by three lengths.
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This morning’s work like the Nemo of old but Thursday’s draw is more than cruel
Ray: Little Leo’s no star but he’s the kind of horse everybody would love to own
It’s all up to Leo at Cambridge on Thursday night with Cove and Moose on the easy list
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Les Harding
Monday at Globe Derby
Race 7: Beaudiene Rocknroll
7.29pm NZ time
He’s been working well and has taken benefit from his first-up run, when he was attacked mercilessly in front. Scratchings bring him in to three on the gate from where he can hopefully lead or, at worst, trail if Celestical Zodiac adopts his usual pattern and stays in front. Boss Major is the biggest danger.
Mark Dux’s comments
Thursday at Albion Park
Race 8: Captain Nemo
5.43pm NZ time
“He felt like the old Nemo when he worked today. He dashed up nicely, and wanted to do it, and that’s when you know he’s feeling all right. But we won’t be out there to make something happen from the second row. We’ll drive him cold and, if we have some luck, great. It’s not a super hard field, and I could see him finishing really strongly.”
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s honest enough and you have to consider him an each-way chance given the sort of horses he’s racing against.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Obadiah Dragon
5.32pm
“He’s drawn awkwardly in a capacity field so he’ll need a lot of luck. But, as long as he doesn’t have to do too much work, he’ll get home well. He’s a nicer horse than people think.”
Race 1: Frisco Bay
5.32pm
“I thought he went really well last time but I can’t label him from four on the second row in a nice field. He’ll need to fluke a really good trip to threaten.”
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.30pm
“It’s a handy bunch of horses so you could say I’m hopeful rather than confident. He’s drawn one a few times and hasn’t shown a lot of gate speed but he should get out well enough to land a handy trip. I’m hoping he can run in the first three or four.”
Race 3: My Copy
6.30pm
“He’s in career best form but will need a perfect trip. He needs to stay handy without spending too much petrol. He follows speed well but we’ll be relying on luck.”
