Larry Lincoln (red hood) pierces through the centre for Hayden Barnes and gets up in the last stride to nail Our Madiba at Albion Park last Saturday night. PHOTO: Dan Costello.
Larry can go all the way on Saturday night and cap stellar month for Al’s Lincoln Farms team
By Barry Lichter • 26 February 2021
Larry Lincoln can lead all the way on Saturday night and ring up just on A$33,000 for the month in earnings for Lincoln Farms, says trainer Al Barnes.
With wins by all three horses he has racing for Lincoln Farms, Larry Lincoln, Northview Hustler and Bondi Shake, Barnes and his son Hayden have had a stellar month.
And with Larry Lincoln an almost certain leader from the pole, Barnes is bullish that the roll can continue in the fifth race at Albion Park.
“Larry deserves to be favourite and he’s got enough respect to lead and win.
“There are some capable horses in the race - Courageous Saint won well on Tuesday - but over a mile Larry will be very hard to beat from in front.”
Larry Lincoln showed a rare brand of speed for a horse of his grade last Saturday night when he came from three back on the outer to nail the favourite Our Madiba on the post.
Pulled three wide 600 metres from home, his sizzling closing 800 and 400 sectionals of 54.25 and 26.51 saw the 1660 metres cut out in a mile rate of 1:54.6.
Barnes says he’s very confident Bondi Shake can back up on his Tuesday win and run a place in the final race.
Bondi Shake faces a tougher field of three-year-olds but Barnes says he’s very bright and is sure to run a “cheeky race.”
“Dance In The Sun looks the winner but he can run second because he chases really well.
“He doesn’t like going from slow to pinging but he’ll sit on a fast speed and chase.”
Bondi Shake showed that determination when he came out of the trail on Tuesday and hunted down the favourite Coppice to score by a nose.
“This is stronger but he’s up to them.”
Larry Lincoln races at Albion Park at 10.47pm NZ time on Saturday night.
Bondi Shakes races at Albion Park at 1.20am NZ time early Sunday morning.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
4.52pm
“She did a good job last week at Auckland. Throwing her in the deep end seems to have toughened her up a bit. She’s getting stronger all the time. This is a big drop in class and she’s a chance from a better gate (three).”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.20pm
“If the real Prince turned up he’d absolutely be hard to beat. If he leads, as he should do from two, he’s a different horse.”
Race 3: Major Copy
5.54pm
“Maurice just nursed him around on debut. He was stepping over tyre marks on the track so he didn’t want to launch him into the open too soon. We’ll put a shadow roll on him this time to stop that and I can see him going a lot better from the inside draw.”
Race 3: Jessie Lincoln
5.54pm
“I’m not saying she can’t win but it will be hard for Fergie to find a good trip from the draw. She’ll need a lot of luck but she can be right in it if things go her way as she’s training well.”
Race 5: Lincoln Dealer
6.49pm
“He’s been a slow developing horse and you can’t drive him pretty, he won’t let you, as he’s a bit of a hot head. Maurice will launch him and see where he ends up.”
Race 5: Spirit Of God
6.49pm
“She got tired late last time and started hanging a bit (hitting a marker) but I thought she went OK. She did a bit early (from a wide draw) and was still there at the finish so she’s going to win a race. You never know with second line draws but it’s usually a decent impairment.”
Race 7: Lincoln Maree
7.40pm
“She never runs a bad race. She has a big motor for a little filly and should be right in the fray.”
Race 7: Angelic Copy
7.40pm
“Maurice said she foundered a bit when they took off, and got three or four lengths behind, but she didn’t lose any more ground after that and held her place. So the run wasn’t as bad as it looked and she’ll be improved.”
Race 8: Lincoln Wave
8.14pm
“It was a non-event last time (from a stand) and he’s a good horse who will be vying for the lead from five and deserves to be favourite.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.14pm
“Peter (Ferguson) said he didn’t feel as sharp last week as in the past so I’ve given him a little freshen-up with a light week and he should go better.”
