Larry Lincoln … drawn to get some of the money on debut at Cambridge on Friday night. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
Larry Lincoln has the zip to get a nice possie when he debuts at Cambridge on Friday night
By Barry Lichter • 16 October 2019
A good front row draw could be enough to see Larry Lincoln in the money on debut at Cambridge on Friday night.
The Sweet Lou three-year-old has had his issues in the past but has steadily improved this preparation and goes into the seventh race well primed after five recent workouts and trials.
And trainer Ray Green believes that from three on the gate he has enough speed to get a good position.
“He’s quite zippy, so I don’t think he’ll get left parked, and if he gets a good trip I’m sure he’ll be right in it.
“He’s a neat little horse who tries very hard and doesn’t do much wrong so he’ll win a race or two.”
Larry Lincoln’s career was stalled by a big splint on a front leg which required him to be boxed for two months, after which he was given another two months in the paddock.
But it’s been all plain sailing this time in and he showed he had some lick when leading all the way to win his left-handed qualifying trial on September 28, albeit against only two rivals.
“He’s been trialling well and it’s not a wonderful field so he should get his chance.”
Double Or Nothing breaks through at Auckland last start, staving off Christianshavtime. PHOTO: Peter Rubery.Double Or Nothing might have taken 14 starts to win a race but as a last-start winner at Auckland he deserves to be respected again in the second race.
Double Or Nothing showed improved grit on September 27 when he fought off Christianshavtime in 1:57.2 at Alexandra Park and last Saturday scored an all-the-way win at the Pukekohe workouts for rookie junior Zed Meredith.
“He’s looking good and certainly has the ability to go on with it, although there are one or two tidy ones against him.”
As a rating 55 pacer, Double Or Nothing faces opposition up to rating 70 in the form of Young Conqueror and the in-form Gladamare (r63) who kicks off Meredith’s career in the cart.
Double Or Nothing has the advantage, however, of having high gate speed and should easily lead from gate two.
Don’t discount the chances of Lindi Lincoln also shooting for the early lead in the fourth race, despite her outside front row draw.
Lindi Lincoln was taken out of the race last time when Bettor Get It On galloped in front of her out of the mobile and they locked wheels, tipping driver Ben Butcher out.
“That was just bad luck but at least nobody was hurt. She’s been unlucky again with the draw but at least she’s made the front line this time, which is an improvement.
“And she could lead them from out there. She’s got a bit of gate speed and if Zac wanted to, she’s capable of getting there. If he goes back he’s going to have to use her at some stage anyway.
“We’ve just got to hope she gets a trip soon and it’s not a great field.”
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Spirited Belle
4.46pm
Delany: “I saw she’d been punted but somebody must know something we don’t as I’ve been working her myself and, while she feels all right and hasn’t put the boot in like at Auckland, I think she’ll need the run. She hasn’t got any high speed but feels like she will stay. She has improved a bit but I’d be surprised if she won.”
Race 1: Lincoln Maree
4.46pm
“It’s always hard from these draws but she’s a tough mare who will make her own luck at some stage. She’s going well enough - her drivers have all been happy - and she’s a little warrior who tries like hell.”
Race 2: Major Copy
5.12pm
“He’s only two and very inexperienced but he feels like a good colt and there’s a lot of improvement in him. He certainly caught a lot of people’s attention last time. I don’t know how good he is yet but he’ll be right there.”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.12pm
“If he can lead without having to do too much work I can’t see anything beating him. I thought he went great last start. He pressed the winner hard ’til the corner then just flattened out in the run home, but he had every reason to do that after all the work he’d done.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.12pm
“She’s been undone by bad draws. If she led easily from three she’d be hard to beat as she’s a good front-runner.”
Race 4: Spirited Peggy
6.12pm
“We’ve had her for only two weeks but she’s seven now and has had her chance to win one. She has a bit of speed but I think she gets pulling so we’ve got the Hidez (compression) hood on her and plugged her ears up.”
Race 6: Copy N Paste
7.10pm
“We won’t see the best of him for another six months. He’s been a slow developing horse but is improving all the time and getting stronger.”
Race 6: Jessie Lincoln
7.10pm
“If I was having a bet on one of them in the race it would be her. She deserves to win one. Her last two have been really good - she just ran into one who was a bit slicker last time in Major Copy.”
Race 6: Lincoln Dealer
7.10pm
“He’s a bit one-dimensional - you’ve got to feed him track and let him run - so the second row draw is a big handicap. To his credit I was surprised he finished so close last time after all the work he did. When he gets a decent draw and crosses them they’ll know they’re at the races. He’s got a big motor and tries hard.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.08pm
“She clawed her way to the front last time but had nothing left at the finish. That won’t happen this time and she should lead easily from one.”
Race 8: Angelic Copy
8.08pm
“She’s had terrible draws but has been going good races. The others last time were just better than her but this is a big drop in class. With the right trip she could get some of it at huge odds.”
Race 9: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.35pm
“He’s not quick away from a stand but he won’t muff it completely. He steps from the front line and Peter Ferguson was quite happy with his last run.”
Race 9: Lincoln Wave
8.35pm
“He bombed the stand the first time but to be fair all those horses were rushing up at him from the back and that panicked him a bit. He’s on 10 metres this time so that won’t happen.”
