Leo takes the lion’s share to cap terrific Manawatu season - and Ray gets a piece too

Co-trainer Ray Green couldn’t have scripted a better finish to the Manawatu racing season than Leo Lincoln winning again tonight.

Going back-to-back in a $25,000 race saw the four-year-old pick up $24,750 at the two-night meeting with Green sharing in the spoils as a co-owner.

With Leo Lincoln’s career tally now six wins and $83,365, it also vindicated his decision to take a share in the horse in preference to stablemate Lincoln La Moose, who lags $50,000 behind in earnings.

Green, who races Leo Lincoln with Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street, their business manager Ian Middelton, Glenn and Ann Cotterill and Phil Kelly, liked the way Leo was shaping up in his early education, despite the fact he was big and growing and likely to take a little time.

Bought from Alabar Stud for $27,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2021 weanling sale, the Art Major youngster was only the second foal of Alta Valencia, a sister to Alta Intrigue who ran third for Lincoln Farms in Raukapuka Ruler’s Great Northern Derby.

How Leo Lincoln looked as a weanling when Lincoln Farms bought him for $27,000.Green said Leo Lincoln always showed a lot of ability and when he won his third race in March, 2024 he sat parked for the last lap at Cambridge and clocked 2:40 flat. Two weeks later he ran 2:39.6 when beaten a head and a neck by Little Spike and Vessem.

“He went through a funny patch after that and I think he had a few lameness issues which were never pinpointed.

“But he’s obviously got stronger with a bit of age and I think he’s close to the best of what we’ve seen from him right now.”

Green said Leo Lincoln really benefitted from another slick start tonight, and he praised the starter Gary Phillips for doing his job efficiently, turning the field in and letting them go without delay.

“We also let his hopples out quite a bit on this trip and that seems to have helped.”

Driver Peter Ferguson did the rest, taking an early trail before coming off the markers a round out to avoid being snookered three back.

From there, Leo Lincoln took over, claiming the pacemaker Lord Delmar turning for home then bravely fending off Rough And Ready who swept up and briefly looked to have his measure at the top of the home stretch.

“Fergy drove a good race but that’s what you expect when you put the top drivers on.

“It was a $25,000 race too - we wouldn’t be racing for any more than that at Auckland.”

Green said while some critics blamed Manawatu for taking horses away from Auckland he wasn’t about to send them to Auckland just to be cannon fodder.

“He’ll go up another eight rating points to 62 and the way things are up here Merlin will be breathing down his neck before you know it.”

Leo Lincoln’s $13,750 stake, plus Kevin Kline’s contribution with a strong second earlier in the night, took Lincoln Farms’ Manawatu earnings in the last two months to a few dollars short of $80,000.