High-flying Lisa reunites with beautiful black Lincoln’s Kruz for powerhouse win at Awapuni

Five years after spotting a striking black two-year-old in the birdcage at the Levin jumpouts, top jockey Lisa Allpress has racked up another win on swift galloper Lincoln’s Kruz.

Allpress had not sat on Lincoln Farms’ seven-year-old for 16 months - the same hiatus since his last win - but her knowledge of the horse was instrumental in his powerhouse performance on the Awapuni synthetic track on Sunday.

Given a dream trip in behind the speed, and appreciating the better going, Lincoln’s Kruz made light of his 62kg top weight to record the seventh win of his career, and fourth for Allpress.

Allpress was so taken by Lincoln’s Kruz when she first saw him going through his early tuition she told trainer Lisa Latta she’d love to ride him some time.

So began an albeit intermittent pairing that eventually led to Lincoln’s Kruz winning the Listed Pegasus Stakes at Riccarton under Allpress in November, 2022.

But just three months later, Allpress reluctantly excused herself from riding the horse.

“I was having trouble with my shoulder and he was going through a naughty stage - he was difficult to even get on in the birdcage. I told Lisa I just couldn’t ride him as he jerked around a bit and was getting my shoulder in the wrong position.

“He was quite a handful, was so full of business and would get quite excited.”

Lincoln’s Kruz powers over the top of Beebeep and Idyllic at Awapuni on Sunday. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.Soon afterwards, Allpress had surgery on her shoulder which sidelined her for six months.

It came as a surprise when Latta approached Allpress at quite short notice last week, asking if she’d ride the horse at Awapuni.

“I was a bit miffed not to be on Idyllic, whom I’ve ridden a lot, and said I’d like to ride him again as my shoulder had settled down a lot and I was feeling strong enough.

“After looking at the form, I thought I could run third. My plan was to track in behind Idyllic, she’s such a fast little mare, and he settled beautifully.

“He was going so fast round that (tight) home corner his rear end was going sideways like a rally car.”

But as soon as Allpress balanced up Lincoln’s Kruz and eased him out into the clear, he unwound stylishly.

“He has such a will to win - they way he puts his head out he’s a real trier and I didn’t touch him with the stick.

“He didn’t feel the 62kg. When I ride at that weight I have a decent sized saddle and it’s full of lead so the majority of the weight is tied on his back, it’s not like a lot of weight’s rolling around on him.”

Allpress said Lincoln’s Kruz, who has now won $205,000, had been a strong horse since day dot.

Lisa Allpress brings Lincoln’s Kruz back to scale, the 1917th winner of her career. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.“He’s beautiful, a neat horse, full of importance and he just wants to get on with the job.

“He can overdo it. That’s why he’s won five 1000 metre races - they go that much harder and he gets off the bridle earlier.”

Allpress said Lincoln’s Kruz felt like he was back in a happy space on Sunday and she was glad Latta had decided to keep racing the rising eight-year-old.

While it was getting harder to place the horse, he had been competitive before in features like the Pegasus and Stewards at Riccarton and would be again, she said.

Allpress, back riding winners regularly and already seventh, with 62 winners, on the premiership which she won in 2019-20, advanced to 1917 winners on Lincoln’s Kruz.

At that rate, it will only be another couple of seasons before she is celebrated as the first woman to ride 2000 winners, joining an exclusive club of eight including Chis Johnson, David Walsh, Lance O’Sullivan, Noel Harris, David Peake, Bill Skelton, Michael Coleman and Opie Bosson.