It’s this Lincoln’s turn to Star and Vinnie could be the one to get the job done

Lincoln Star won’t get his ideal trip until Boxing Day but don’t be surprised if he goes close at Awapuni on Saturday anyway with a senior rider on.

That’s how trainer Lisa Latta sees the sixth race where Lincoln Star carries top weight of 59kg over 1600 metres, despite being ready for a middle distance.

Lincoln Star might have looked a fraction disappointing last time when he was sent out favourite at Awapuni but could run only fifth, 5.8 lengths from winner Hogan’s Hero.

Analyse the run, however, and it’s easy to forgive Lincoln Star as he was three wide all the way under apprentice Kozzi Asano and pushed widest turning for home.

“He covered a lot of extra ground but still kept coming in the straight,’’ says Latta.

“He wants to get over 2000 metres but all the staying races lately have been over 2200 and 2300 and I don’t think he’ll see out that far.

“So I haven’t backed him up too quickly and have left him at a mile.”

Latta is hoping that a switch to a strong, senior jockey in Vinnie Colgan will also help the horse in what she sees as not that good a field.

“He hasn’t had all favours in his recent starts. He should have finished closer a number of times and I won’t be surprised if he’s right there at the finish or even wins.”

Two starts back Lincoln Star was pipped only a long neck by Bonny Ezra over 1550 metres at Awapuni, with his form line improving as the tracks have firmed.

Platinum Spirit’s first win was in the mud at Trentham.Platinum Spirit, Lincoln Farms’ only other runner at Awapuni, showed in his last start that he’s not just a mudder when, on good 3 footing at Otaki, he ran home strongly for fifth over 2300 metres.

On Saturday he tackles 2200 metres in the fourth race where, apart from topweight Proletariat, the field doesn’t look too intimidating.

“He has a wide draw here but that won’t worry him as he will get back in the running anyway,” says Latta.

“He’s just so lazy but he ran a much improved race last time, and just kept coming.”

The Charm Spirit three-year-old was clocked over his last 600 metres in 35.48, the third fastest closing split in the race. Only fourth-placed Katiem Marie (35.01) and runner-up Zac Brown (35.45) went faster.

“I’ll be happy as long as he’s running home again but he is capable of being right in the finish if he can improve a length or two on his Otaki run.”