Kevin Kline caps record day for Casey and loyal Lincoln Farms’ team - and can repeat

Kevin Kline capped a memorable day for part-owner Trevor Casey when he outstayed his opposition at Manawatu on Sunday.

Casey’s Lone Star colours were seen in the winners’ circle twice earlier in the night with Tinkerbelle and Stickifingers.

And to seal a record four-win day, he and partner Kate Marriott also enjoyed seeing their trotter Valyrian score at Rangiora.

Kevin Kline’s driver Peter Ferguson was actually donned in Lincoln Farms’ green livery, Casey only one of a horde of the Lincoln Farms’ faithful including John and Lynne Street, Jason Deane, Brent Mulholland, Priscilla Edmunds, Lance Myocevich, Trevor Casey, the Red and Blue Syndicate, Ray Menzies, Dave and Daphne Jones and Margaret Rabbitt.

And while the horse staved off a late charge, only two necks and two heads in front at the post, both trainers Ray Green and Nathan Delany were adamant he had Ragnar Lothbrok, Bell Fire, Run Mason Run and Matai Lizzie well covered.

“They were never going to beat him,” Green said. “He sat parked and could have gone another lap like that.”

Delany, in charge of the team on the trip, said given Kevin Kline had been racing much nicer horses at Auckland in recent months, the only surprising outcome was he started only third favourite.

“Fergie said he did it easily, and the horse only did what he had to. It was good to get the win, hopefully it will boost his confidence.

“He’s come a long way in a short time. You have to remember he’s only three and only started racing last August .”

Back-to-back

Delany believes Kevin Kline ($7) is a strong chance to go back-to-back on the second day of the meeting on Tuesday, in the appropriately named Green/Delany Pace, despite going up slightly in grade and again landing the worst draw.

“I’ll leave the tactics up to Fergie but I imagine he’ll probably do the same thing again, loop the field and outstay them.”

One race earlier, in the Peter and Wendy Ferguson Pace, Delany says Fergie has to be given a chance of upsetting the favourites with Leo Lincoln ($11).

Courtesy of a 10-out-of-10 Fergie drive on Sunday, Leo Lincoln finished only a length, half a head and a head from Festival Cup winner Lord Delmar.

“Fergie’s drive was perfect, you couldn’t ask for better, and he said the horse was doing his best work in the last 50 metres. Maybe with another 100 metres he might have got there.”

Delany said Leo Lincoln had only OK gate speed and would almost certainly get crossed from the pole.

“It will be interesting to see what comes off the gate. I know Fredastaire (in two) will, but what will they do with Lord Delmar who’s on the outside?”

Onyx Shard ($6.50) might be the shortest of the Lincoln Farms trio on the early fixed odds for the sixth race but Delany thinks she will be up against it drawn the outside gate of seven.

“She dropped one rating point for running fifth on Sunday and I was hoping she’d drop down a grade.”

Delany said the mare had endured some tough trips in her recent two starts, having to do a lot of work, and it didn’t help being three wide for the last lap on the first day.

“Also they only walked and sprinted home.”

Winner Captain Kobe won the 2000 metre race for R39 to R42 horses in a pedestrian 2:35. By comparison the lower graded R35 to R39 race was won in 2:29.5 by Benson Dude.

Delany suspects Onyx Shard might be better not doing too much work and coming with one run, making her chances very tempo dependent.