Leo Lincoln boasts two wins and a placing from four starts at Cambridge. PHOTO: Angelique Bridson.
It’s all up to Leo at Cambridge on Thursday night with Cove and Moose on the easy list
By Barry Lichter • 7 May 2024
Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green will take just three runners to Cambridge on Thursday night with two other regulars on the easy list.
Scintigraphy tests on last-start winner Lincoln Cove found nothing really sinister but revealed inflammation in his knees and hocks, which have been treated.
And impressive Cambridge debut winner Lincoln La Moose is out for six weeks after surgery to correct an epiglottis entrapment.
Green ordered tests on the three-year-old after he surprisingly stopped at Auckland at his last start, driver Andre Poutama reporting he made a noise in the running.
“Something like that had to be going on as he should have won from the front with nobody bothering him,” Green said.
It will be left to Leo Lincoln to spearhead the Thursday team this week, his chances in the second race helped already by an early scratching.
Leo comes in to gate four in the now seven-horse field, giving driver Maurice McKendry a better chance of securing a more economical trip than last time.
“After Maurice had a dab at the lead, and couldn’t get there, that was that. He’s a nice little horse but he can’t sit parked like that.
“This looks to be an easier field, and he should be in the money, though you’d think Irish Whispers would lead from one and be hard to round up.”
Leo Lincoln would only have to run up to the form which saw him run a close third behind Little Spike and Vessem at Cambridge four starts back, when he clocked 2:39.6 for the 2200 metres, to be a serious threat.
He boasts two wins and a placing from four starts at Cambridge.
Green isn’t expecting stablemate Obadiah Dragon to test the favoured pair.
“He doesn’t have the race fitness of Leo and will probably need the race.”
Obadiah Dragon, who will be having his first race for more than a month, had a spin round at the Pukekohe workouts last Saturday, weakening to third after looping the field mid-heat.
But Green said driver Nathan Delany had no option but to let the horse run when he started hitting the footrests.
My Copy scores with plenty in reserve at Cambridge last start. PHOTO: Angelique Bridson.Green will have to wait until the last race before seeing if My Copy can repeat his decisive fresh-up win at Cambridge 12 days ago.
“He really did outclass them but he got a perfect suck along, which he likes, and finished off big.
“I don’t know that he can rough it so he’ll need some luck again from five.
“Perhaps he likes being a bit fresh but he went quite well at the workouts at the weekend so he’s trained on.”
My Copy came from last on the home bend, sweeping up five wide before running on resolutely behind Always B Stunning on closing sectionals of 57.9 and 28.3.
My Copy started from 10 metres in the 2500 metre stand and finished a close fifth behind race rivals D J Rock (second) and Rock Band (fourth).
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Les Harding
Monday at Globe Derby
Race 7: Beaudiene Rocknroll
7.29pm NZ time
He’s been working well and has taken benefit from his first-up run, when he was attacked mercilessly in front. Scratchings bring him in to three on the gate from where he can hopefully lead or, at worst, trail if Celestical Zodiac adopts his usual pattern and stays in front. Boss Major is the biggest danger.
Mark Dux’s comments
Thursday at Albion Park
Race 8: Captain Nemo
5.43pm NZ time
“He felt like the old Nemo when he worked today. He dashed up nicely, and wanted to do it, and that’s when you know he’s feeling all right. But we won’t be out there to make something happen from the second row. We’ll drive him cold and, if we have some luck, great. It’s not a super hard field, and I could see him finishing really strongly.”
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s honest enough and you have to consider him an each-way chance given the sort of horses he’s racing against.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Obadiah Dragon
5.32pm
“He’s drawn awkwardly in a capacity field so he’ll need a lot of luck. But, as long as he doesn’t have to do too much work, he’ll get home well. He’s a nicer horse than people think.”
Race 1: Frisco Bay
5.32pm
“I thought he went really well last time but I can’t label him from four on the second row in a nice field. He’ll need to fluke a really good trip to threaten.”
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.30pm
“It’s a handy bunch of horses so you could say I’m hopeful rather than confident. He’s drawn one a few times and hasn’t shown a lot of gate speed but he should get out well enough to land a handy trip. I’m hoping he can run in the first three or four.”
Race 3: My Copy
6.30pm
“He’s in career best form but will need a perfect trip. He needs to stay handy without spending too much petrol. He follows speed well but we’ll be relying on luck.”
