Father Lenihan collared in Foxton trial but Sarah never asked him the question

Father Lenihan looked ready to resume for Lincoln Farms and trainer Lisa Latta when he trialled strongly at Foxton today.

In the hands of Sarah Macnab, he jumped well and sat second on the pace in a seven-horse heat over 1000 metres.

He saved ground on the turn, cutting through on the inside, and maintained a strong gallop to the line to be caught late by Den Bosch, beaten half a length in 1:05.17.

“He was under no pressure at all,” said Latta.

“It was a big improvement on his first-up trial and this will tidy him up to head back to the races in the next three weeks. We may look at Hawera on October 10.”

Father Lenihan hasn’t raced for more than 10 months but his win two starts back was at Hawera on dead 5 footing.

Good galloper Lincoln Raider finished last in a six-horse heat over 1000 metres but didn’t like the heavy ground and never saw much daylight in the straight.

“He travelled up nicely all the way, even though he wasn’t that comfortable in the going, and made up nice ground to finish only three and a half lengths from the winner (Very Appealing).

“He is still building his fitness but I am very happy with the way he is coming up. If I feel he needs another run before he heads to the races it will be at the Otaki trials in a fortnight.”

The Belardo - Donaquillo filly who shaded her stablemate at Foxton on Tuesday.Lincoln Farms’ two unnamed Belardo fillies did everything right in the opening two-year-old heat over 550 metres.

At the line the filly out of Donaquillo, ridden by Jonathan Riddell, edged out the filly out of Acapela (Ashvin Mudhoo) by a head.

The pair finished eight lengths ahead of a Tivaci filly trained by Ilone Kelly.

Latta plans to trial the pair again at Otaki in a fortnight.

Lincoln Fury is likely to resume at Woodville on October 8 despite running last of five in a 1200 metre heat won nicely by Cead Mile Failte.

“He sat in the trail in the worst of the ground and travelled up very keenly throughout, which took its toll in the final 200 metres.”

Platinum Petals finished fifth, a long way from impressive winner Key in her 1000 metre heat but still impressed Riddell.

“Jonathan took her back in the running to get her breathing and relaxed. She worked into it across the top but got a decent bump at the top of the straight and just battled home.

“She is a big, strong girl and will need another trial but Jonathan really likes her and says she gives him a good feel.”

Kamanda Lincoln didn’t like the sticky ground in the final heat of the day, finishing last of seven over 1400 metres.

Last out of the gates, he travelled keenly on a slow tempo and was left flat-footed when the field sprinted from the 500 metres.

Kamanda Lincoln maintained his run to the line and pulled up having a good blow.

Latta says she is looking at starting the stayer over 1600 metres at Hastings on October 3.

“It’s short of his best but at least I know he will get a reasonable track up there.”

Shots of the seven trialists parading before their heats can be viewed on this link.