Forget Auckland, Ray’s girl Jessie can do a lot better at Cambridge on Thursday night

Senior Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green is hoping Jessie Lincoln will turn her form around at Cambridge on Thursday night after a good training session today.

The Lather Up filly was the centre of strong support at Auckland last Friday night, starting 2/4 in the betting, after a recent run there when she powered home for fourth in the fastest closing sectionals 56.6 and 28.8.

But Jessie Lincoln was left a pricked balloon after sitting three wide with no cover for the last 1150 metres while upset winner Hearts N Aces reeled off a sizzling 2:40.3 in front.

The half-sister to Group I winner Coastal Babe was struggling a long way from home and came in seventh, all of 28 lengths from the winner.

Green can only put the run down to the fact the race was run two seconds faster than Jessie Lincoln had ever experienced in her 14-start career. When she clocked her fast splits a few weeks earlier, winner Dolly Parton ran only 2:46.06 for the 2200 metres.

“The way Hearts N Aces ran seemed to stuff everybody up. There’s nothing wrong with our filly. She trained well this morning.”

From five on the gate on Thursday, Green is hoping to see the real Jessie Lincoln when she switches to Cambridge where she has placed three times.

“Zac’s driving her this time so hopefully he can pull a rabbit out of the hat.”

Putting Zachary Butcher on Leo Lincoln for the first time in two and a half years proved a winning move when that horse won at Cambridge last month.

Green expects stablemate Lincoln Downs to go better left-handed, albeit unlikely to challenge Jessie Lincoln.

The Downbytheseaside filly showed little when resuming at Auckland last week, giving ground 800 metres out behind Hearts N Aces.

“She’s got the inside draw so she should get a good trip. There’ll be no excuses.”

Green scratched Copy Ten Four from the same race, not happy with his work today.

Rivergirl Bella has the job ahead in the third race, where she has drawn the outside of the gate.

“She’s been going OK but I’m not holding my breath as she’ll need a bit of luck from the draw.”

Handled more conservatively last week by Maurice McKendry, Rivergirl Bella came from three back on the outer with a good late run to be beaten only a neck and half a head, her third placing in her last three starts.

“She just needs a trip and she’ll win one. She trained nicely this morning.”

Tony Cameron takes the reins this week with McKendry not driving at the meeting and headed for Christchurch where he has four key drives for Steve and Amanda Telfer at Addington on Friday night.