Frankie Major whistles past Upsize Me to score at Cambridge. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.
Lincoln Farms’ Cambridge double all down to perfect displays by Magic Man McKendry
By Barry Lichter • 13 May 2022
Two perfect drives by Maurice McKendry landed Lincoln Farms a double at Cambridge on Thursday - but trainer Ray Green isn’t getting carried away by the results.
McKendry was at his brilliant best when he cuddled up Frankie Major three back on the markers, extricated him at the end of the back straight, then angled out to sprint past the favourite Upsize Me.
And a few races later he gave Argyle the perfect run in the one-one before snatching the honours from Mr Incredible, his half length margin flattering the runner-up.
The double proved only a curtain-raiser for the ‘Magic Man’, however, as he then pulled out an inch perfect front-running drive to get Hot And Treacherous home by a nose over A G’s White Socks in the feature Flying Mile.
“Maurice drove both ours beautifully, especially Frankie Major. We’ve always known that he had a good sprint like that. He’s done that at the trials plenty of times but that’s the first time he’s shown it on raceday.
“But the drop in class definitely helped him and I still think he needs a short break, maybe three to four weeks.
“He’s only two and it would be a bit cruel to start him up the next grade.”
Argyle gets the measure of Mr Incredible close to home. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.McKendry said while Argyle looked reluctant to run past Mr Incredible, he was inclined to switch off in the run home before easily reeling in the leader.
“He’s still very green and the drop in class helped him too. We’ll give him another try at Auckland and see how he fronts up but we’re not getting carried away with him.
“He won’t get away with sectionals like 60.1 and 30.4 at Auckland.”
Green was disappointed not to see how Next Go Me and Colonel Lincoln fared in the fourth race. The event was abandoned when debutant Rubble died after choking down and falling 1300 metres from home.
“It was very unfortunate for the connections of the horse, nobody likes to see that happen.
“Andrew (Drake) was adamant he was going to get the money with Next Go Me but then Maurice said the same about Colonel Lincoln.”
Both horses were travelling well, Next To Me outside the leader Private Eye, and Colonel Lincoln three back on the markers.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
