Lincoln Farms’ team struck by bug but this one looks OK to rocknroll at Cambridge
By Barry Lichter • 22 August 2023
Beaudiene Rocknroll will be the sole runner for Lincoln Farms at Cambridge on Thursday night, seemingly having dodged the bug that is doing the rounds at Pukekohe.
And, with the best draw of his fledgling nine-start career, trainer Ray Green is hoping he can visit the winner’s circle again, like he did on the course in June.
“We’ve got a bit of sickness here at the moment, with snotty noses, but he seems OK,” Green said.
“I haven’t done all their bloods but we know of seven or eight who have got it. The weather has been so changeable, as well as wet and cold, but luckily this bug hasn’t been as bad as usual.
“In the past it’s been quite debilitating, and has lingered for months, but this one seems to last only a couple of weeks.”
Green suspects the stable’s recent quiet run has reflected the pesence of the often invisible enemy with a number of below par runs from the likes of Simply Sam.
“Lincoln River has snot pouring out of him now too. He’s had some hard racing and when you stress them a bit they seem to pick it up easier.
“We’ve just got to back off them a bit but I can’t see any reason why not to race Beaudiene Rocknroll, he seems fine.
“Two is the best draw he’s ever had, and it’s only 1700 metres, so he’s a definite winning chance.”
The only time Beaudiene Rocknroll has drawn a decent alley in his nine starts was when he fibrillated at Auckland in June and was pulled up.
In his other eight starts he has started from five, six three times, nine twice, 11 and 12.
Given he led easily from six when winning at Cambridge five starts ago, he should have little trouble crossing the pole runner on Thursday.
And with talented front-running driver Andre Poutama in the hot seat again, Green can see the three-year-old being hard to run down.
Two weeks ago at Cambridge, after using plenty of petrol spearing out of the gate to lead, he hung in doggedly in the home stretch to run a close third to Miki Miksta and Cyren Shard, clocking a respectable 2:43.9 for the 2200 metres in terrible conditions.
Beaudiene Rocknroll, who is raced by Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street, breeders Dave and Dawn Kennedy and Melbourne’s Merv and Meg Butterworth, had an interrupted start to his career when, after just two races at two, he broke a pedal bone and had to be spelled for six months.
He is a half brother to 22-race winner Beaudiene Bad Babe.
More news in Harness
Rivergirl Bella finally delivers - and Phil kicks himself for not being there or having a punt
This is it, Sammy, the draw’s a bit of a pain but you can eat these non-winners for breakfast
Prince Lincoln finally shows what he’s made of - and, wow, was that a blazing demolition!
Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.14pm
“She tries hard and is getting stronger. She just needs a trip to be right there.”
Race 3: Copy N Paste
6.16pm
“Maurice said he got a bit tired on debut but I didn’t expect a lot. Four months ago you’d have wondered if he’d ever qualify. He’ll improve on that - he’s improving all the time - but from seven he’ll have to go back and come into it late.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.14pm
Update: Scratched
“She’s up in grade but is a chance again if she can get a good run up the front of the field. It was a good effort last time to break 2:43.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.49pm
“She’s trained on OK and, while no champion, has to be a chance down in grade against the amateur horses.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Jessie Lincoln
6.57pm
“I can’t see her beating Sammy Lincoln but with a good draw at last you’ll see a better performance. She’s capable of finishing in the first three.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.57pm
“She bolted in at the workouts, leading out from a wide gate and getting home in 27.9. She’s a great driving little mare and has good manners. I could see her winning one very soon.”
Race 4: Sammy Lincoln
6.57pm
“I know we’ve said it before but he has been unlucky a few times and, all things being fair and square, it’s hard to see him beaten. The draw is awkward but everything points to him winning. There are no derby horses in there and he went a great race in the Northern Derby last start.”
Race 4: Marylynes Boy
6.57pm
“He’s a tidy little horse. I can’t see him winning from the (second row) draw but he’s like Spirit Of God, he’s not far away from winning one.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.25pm
“He’s been a late developer. You can see it in his growth, his withers have finally popped up, and he’ll get better as time goes on. He’s no champion but he should be a handy horse through winter. He’s capable of stepping away fairly well.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.25pm
“It’s a toss-up between the two of them. Sugar Ray is a bit stronger perhaps but Leo is very good from a stand. You can forget that last run in the Messenger - he was only in there to help get the race off the ground.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.25pm
“He finally showed us what he’s got last week. Inside second row draws can be awkward - you’re at the mercy of the others - but he could end up with a good trail behind the leader.”
