Sam Collett will stick with Kamanda Lincoln on Saturday. PHOTO: Race Images.
Kamanda Lincoln scrapes into Wellington Cup
By Barry Lichter • 13 January 2019
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.
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Lisa’s comments
Wednesday at Woodville
Race 10: Lincoln Towers
4.37pm
“I’m hoping the rain stays away as it’s not an overly strong field and we have Jonathan Riddell back on. We will look to get a bit of cover and see if he can finish it off. His work has been really good, and I could not be happier with him. He looks fantastic and is a really happy horse. The changes we have made to him and his routine have made a huge difference so hopefully he can reflect this on raceday as he is at the stage where he needs to show something.”