Leo Lincoln close to a win: Watch how he copped it early last time at Manawatu
By Barry Lichter • 5 April 2025
Leo Lincoln needs only a little luck at Manawatu on Sunday to make up for an unlucky last-start placing on the course.
The four-year-old, who has opened a $4.80 third favourite, was all set to secure the perfect trail on April 1 when rival Sailesh Abernethy on Stickifingers cut in front of him, a manoeuvre which will see him face a careless driving charge before the meeting starts on Sunday.
The incident on the first turn saw Peter Ferguson having to check Leo Lincoln and concede his position, a critical change considering Stickifingers went on to win the race.
Given Leo Lincoln was forced to cover extra ground when challenging three wide on the home turn, it could be argued he was cost the win.
Winding up late, Leo Lincoln finished just three-quarters of a length and a neck behind Stickifingers and pacemaker Fredastaire.
The merit of the run was further underlined with the 2000 meres cut out in 2:24.6, a slick mile rate of 1:56.4 on the recently refurbished track.
Leo Lincoln … devoid of luck in recent starts. PHOTO: Ange Bridson/Race Images.Co-trainer Ray Green said Abernethy’s move, when not sufficiently clear, took Leo Lincoln’s legs right out from under him - “You can’t cut in like that.
“He’ll win one soon. He’s always been a nice horse and very rarely missed cheques before he went off, for whatever reason, when he couldn’t even pace properly.
“But he seems back to it now and should be in the money for sure.”
Leo Lincoln has drawn on the inside of the second row, putting him at the mercy of how fast pole runner Ha’penny comes out of the gate, ironically piloted by Abernethy.
Lincoln Farms’ next best runner is Onyx Shard ($6, $1.90) but she will need some luck to overcome her outside front row draw.
Taken back from a similar alley at the last meeting on the course, Onyx Shard finished very well, a tactic Green expects will be employed again.
“If you get a good draw, you’re obligated to use it and go forward, and that means burning a bit of petrol. But, driven more quietly last time, she got sucked along and did nothing, finishing with plenty of gas in the tank.
“Ideally she’ll be driven like that again. But as long as she gets home well, I’ll be happy.”
Work in progress
Remaining runner, What’s Up The Hill ($11, $2.30) is a work in progress, says Green.
The son of former age group star Escapee has switched into a pace in all of his three starts, twice late when tiring, and once soon after the start.
“He just needs more practice - you don’t learn much at the trials with only two or three horses. If he trots the whole way, he should be in the money.”
Kevin Kline has been scratched from the sixth race.
“He has an abscess in a foot and is quite tender on it.”
More news in Harness
Prince Lincoln spearheads record-sized team for Lincoln Farms at Cambridge on Friday
Ray cautions punters with no lead this time for Jekyll and Hyde colt Prince Lincoln
Two (not so) secret weapons help Lincoln Farms to $29,287 payday at Cambridge
Deb dresses her latest ‘Copy’ weanling in white and he delivers a Major coup
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
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.”
