Hooded Fury out to give Monkey the Shoulder at Otaki on Monday

When Johnathan Parkes climbed off Lincoln Fury at his last start he told trainer Lisa Latta the horse needed 1600 metres and a good draw.

On Monday at Otaki he gets both.

And that’s why Latta rates the three-year-old the best of her seven possible runners on the day for Lincoln Farms.

Lincoln Fury showed he was on the verge of a win at Wanganui 11 days ago when, pushed forward to race outside the leader, he was claimed only in the last 200 metres, fighting bravely to the line behind well backed favourite Vis Ta Vie.

Latta’s trick of fitting blinkers almost certainly explained the improved run and now that she’s woken up the horse she expects he can win a couple of races quite quickly.

“He’s going to get better with time too but he’s a genuine galloper.’’

The All Too Hard gelding will be having his fourth run back this campaign and he is going better than his moderate formline suggests.

Stablemate Ajay Lincoln’s -99 formline also hides his true ability and while Latta says she expects an improved run on Monday, as he has been working much better in blinkers, it won’t be until he steps over more ground that he will shine.

Their toughest rival looks to be the much touted Allan Sharrock-trained Monkey Shoulder, a $26 chance for the NZ Derby.

Authentic Charm … pulled too hard on a slow pace at Wairarapa.Latta says she would have marked race two runner Authentic Charm the best of her team tomorrow had she drawn an alley.

“Her work this week has been very good but from 10 she’s going to need some luck.’’

Authentic Charm did extremely well to run a two-length fifth when resuming at Wairarapa on January 2, unleashing the fastest last 600 metres in the race of 34.07 despite pulling ferociously in the running.

“They walked and she really got up and trucking. Coming back to 1200 metres will help a bit and actually I’d like to see her run off her feet early so she settles better.

“We’ve changed the way we’re riding her - I’m sure she’s better ridden back - and I just hope there’s no on-speed bias like there can be at Otaki.’’

Latta has engaged 2kg claimer Madan Singh to reduce Master Lincoln’s weight to 55.5kg to make him more competitive in the seventh race because it “looks a tidy little field.’’

“He battled a bit when ridden on the speed last time at Wanganui so we’ll ride him a bit further back, with cover, this time.’’

Latta expects to see the best from the four-year-old when he steps up over ground.

Port Lincoln, on the other hand, will go forward in the sixth race, rider Robbie Hannam hoping to slot in somewhere in the long run to the first turn.

“Robbie said the bad draw definitely cost him last time. It’s hard to do it at both ends.’’

The hulking galloper led until 200 metres out at Otaki on January 7.