Onyx Shard and Peter Ferguson stave off Dixieland Delight at Manawatu. PHOTO: Jack McKenzie/Race Images.
Fergie takes the initiative and Onyx Shard delivers again for the galloping buddies
By Barry Lichter • 9 April 2025
It was only a mid-week meeting at Manawatu but Onyx Shard still brought plenty of joy to Lincoln Farms and her owners.
The Sweet Lou four-year-old notched her third win on Tuesday for Lincoln Farms’ business manager Ian Middleton and his galloping mates Paul Humphries and Ian Harris.
“A win’s a win as anybody in horses will tell you they’re hard to come by. Paul was thrilled to win as she’s still his only pacer.”
Harris also toasted the success, though the $6050 winner’s purse would hardly have registered, given he has a share in topliner Republican Party who took home $40,000 for running sixth in last week’s The Race by Betcha at Cambridge and has a bankroll of $756,340.
Onyx Shard now has career earnings of $35,184 from 24 starts and with a six point re-rating now finds herself on R45.
“She’s no world-beater but she can compete in the lower grades. But she’s limited here in that she’s better the left-handed way round so it’s ether Manawatu or Cambridge.
“Ray Green has always said she’s a nice mare who’ll keep improving but as with all Lincoln Farms’ horses she’s for sale. We were offered a lowball price recently but it was unrealistic.”
Co-trainer Nathan Delany with Onyx Shard who kept up Lincoln Farms’ good recent record at Manawatu. PHOTO: Jack McKenzie.With the last two-day Manawatu meeting scheduled for the end of the month, Middleton expects Onyx Shard will again be part of the Lincoln Farms’ team which has been campaigned successfully by co-trainer Nathan Delany in the Central Distrcits in recent weeks.
And Middleton is happy for Peter Ferguson to retain the drive after his mid-race move round the field to park proved the winning of the race.
“Like all horrible armchair drivers I liked seing her put in the race. He must have heard my comments on Sunday when I said there’s no use going from the turn because you can spit down the straight there.”
The difference, of course, was that on Sunday Onyx Shard’s opposition went 3.3 seconds faster than on Tuesday, preventing Ferguson from getting round from the back.
“It was quite a strange race yesterday, they went hard early, and Fergie made his move at just the right time when they slowed.”
At the line, Onyx Shard was still fighting and had a neck on Dixieland Delight, the 2000 metres run in 2:30.1, a mile rate of 2:00.8.
More news in Harness
Prince Lincoln finally shows what he’s made of - and, wow, was that a blazing demolition!
Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Copy N Paste a ‘tradesman’ but look for bold debut run at Cambridge on Thursday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
6.38pm
“I’m not sure where she’s at. It’s a big drop in class - there’s not much in there - but I don’t think she’ll morph into a star. She was hitting the sulky wheels last time and over-racing but that won’t happen again.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.36pm
“She paced roughly last time but we’ve done a bit of work on her since so she should be happier this time. It depends on the trip she gets (from four) but she’ll go an honest race. She’s no superstar, but she doesn’t miss many cheques.”
Race 8: Copy N Paste
8.45pm
“He’s dour and tradesman-like but he’s getting there. It’s his first time off the place, and the trip will improve him, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him competitive in what is a very weak field. Sometimes you don’t know what the Bettors Delights have got until they front up at the races but he trialled well and beat a couple who are against him here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.53pm
“He actually tried last time. He’s a nice horse but can change his mind quickly. Full blinds woke him up last time so we’ll see if he responds to them again this time.”
Race 3: Omaha Lincoln
5.46pm
“I think he’ll go a good race but it’s his first time at Alexandra Park so I don’t want to talk him up too much. He’s got enough ability to win a race like this, whether he’s ready to do it, we’ll find out. He can get a bit keen at times but I think he’s a chance if he does everything right.”
Race 5: Spiritual Bliss
6.54pm
“It was another great run last time after leading and she’s a good, tough mare who will go another good race. What trip she gets will determine where she finishes. From five, I’m picking she might go back this time but I’ll leave that up to the driver (Harrison Orange).”
Race 6: Sharpe Stride
7.24pm
“He’s a nice trotter, a big strong colt. He can get a bit hot but there’s nothing wrong with how he goes. He’s certainly not good enough to deal with these but he’s there for a run around.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.57pm
“He’s racing in career-best form and they were struggling for runners so I put him in. He gets a starting fee of $1750 so we won’t go home empty-handed. I’m really happy with him, he’s handling right-handed racing better these days. But he’s racing the bear cats so I’m not suggesting for a second he’ll give them a fright.”
Race 10: Colonel Lincoln
9.25pm
“I thought he went super last time. It was a vast improvement on the previous two starts and you’ve got to remember he was out for a long time. He’s coming to it now and improving all the time. I couldn’t label him but I’d be surprised if he’s not in the first three or four. He’s trained on well and gets a front row draw.”
Race 10: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.25pm
“He was given too much to do last time - up to park at the bell - and you can’t drive the ears off them every time. With a more conservative trip he’d be right in it.”
