Fergie looks across at the looming favourite Twist And Tango but Lincoln Linda keeps finding. PHOTO: Kenton Wright/Race Images.
Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
By Barry Lichter • 8 May 2026
“I’m good with temperamental females, I’ve had a lot of practice.”
Driver Peter Ferguson’s description of Thursday night winner Lincoln Linda is sure to get him into trouble with his whānau but it sums up his success with Lincoln Farms’ runaway filly.
The all-the-way Cambridge performance took Fergie’s record on the Bettor’s Delight three-year-old to two wins and two seconds from seven drives, clearly the best of the hapless souls who have sat behind her on racenight.
“The boys told me that even when she was broken in she was a bit like a runaway train. But I don’t mind her - it’s just in her nature, she’s a free spirit.”
Ray Green’s clue to a $10.60 dividend.Co-trainer Ray Green, who once described Lincoln Linda as “bordering on the fringe of lunacy” was happy to see that the filly didn’t “lose the plot” again in her preliminary on Thursday night.
In her previous start, when she had a shorter cart, Fergie said as soon as she started touching the wheels, she got really wound up. “After that we might as well have come off the track.”
But this time Fergie said he was able to keep Linda happy and come start time she exploded out of the gate to hit the lead after 200 metres.
“I was actually hanging on to her. If you let her go, she’d be way quicker than that but then you’ve got to get her back.
“Last night she was a little keen to start with but I took a slightly different tack and made her go really slow and she found a good kick.
“I thought the other horse would get me but at the line she held it quite easily.”
That other horse, the favourite Twist And Tango, came up a neck short after driver Zachary Butcher came out of the one-one to put a little more pressure on Lincoln Linda 1200 metres from home.
But it was not enough and at the line Lincoln Linda clocked a respectable 2:42.79 for the 2200 metres, with closing sectionals of 58 and 28.6.
“She is very temperamental and I don’t think you could change her racing style now - you couldn’t be pulling her off the gate and sit four fence - but if you can keep her under a manageable rein, she’d be competitive anywhere.
“She’d suit Queensland where they have sprint racing all the time. And she is a bit happier left-handed.
“There are a few more wins in her but if it gets to the stage where she’s not able to get things her own way, that’s when she’ll be found out.”
Fergie agrees with Green, however, that there’s a chance that with a bit more racing, Linda might become more even tractable in the running.
Comparatively lightly tried, with only 17 starts, Linda has now banked $23,808 for her owners, John and Lynne Street, their business manager Ian Middleton, Theresa Wyatt, Daphne Jones, Kim Miller and the Excell Syndicate.
More news in Harness
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
Ray reveals his theory on why rank outsider Sammy Lincoln can play a hand in the derby
$101 winner Lincoln Wave has improved and is worth following in Friday’s derby lead-up
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.”
