Kamanda Lincoln scrapes into Wellington Cup

Kamanda Lincoln has scraped into Saturday’s Wellington Cup as the 18th and final qualifier and is primed to run better than his $61 odds would suggest.

Trainer Lisa Latta was very happy with the way the horse performed yesterday in the Trentham Stakes when fourth to Consensus despite being badly off at the set weights over only 2100 metres, a distance well short of his best.

On Saturday he drops 2kg to just 53 kg and gets over 3200 metres for the first time, a trip Latta says will suit his never-say-die style.

“Realistically he was never a winning chance yesterday,’’ says Latta. “He didn’t get in well at the weights - he was giving a Group I winner (Consensus) 2kg - and it was too short for him.

“Sam (Collett) said he was held up a little turning in but he kept grinding away.

“And she’s staying with him for the cup which is great.’’

Kamanda Lincoln showed just how beneficial a good barrier draw is for him yesterday when from the inside gate he jumped out well and slotted straight into the box seat.

While outsprinted down the home stretch he kept giving to finish only one and a half lengths from runner-up Hank Moody who squeezed him up a little late.