Stephen: Lincoln King’s going great guns and will be hard to beat at Te Rapa on Saturday

Trainer Stephen Marsh fully expects Lincoln King to go close in Saturday’s $32,500 Te Awamutu Cup at Te Rapa and justify making an $8000 late payment for next month’s $250,000 New Zealand Cup.

Lincoln King, who has opened a clear $3.60 favourite for Saturday, looked all over a 3200 metre type when he rocketed home to win his last start at Matamata over 2000 metres.

And Marsh says judging by the way he has trained on, he will be hard to beat again, this time over 2100 metres.

“He’s going great guns and I can’t see why he couldn’t win again.

“I’d certainly like to see him race well enough to justify the late nomination fee. I don’t want to see him run ninth and leave us scratching our heads.”

Marsh says Saturday’s field is no more than a run of the mill Saturday event, with Steven James ($6) and Robusto ($7) closest to him in the market.

“This run will top him off nicely so he’s ready for the 2500 metres of the Metropolitan on the first day at Riccarton and that run will top him off for the 3200 metres of the cup, which looks a perfect race for him.

“It’s a nice, little programme. His first couple of runs have been good and they’ve been close to home so he hasn’t had any long trips. And he can fly down to Riccarton.”

Marsh says as a six-year-old Lincoln King has really matured.

“He looks a few better horse and he’s been faultless this time in. He should keep improving and I’m really looking forward to him racing down in Christchurch.’’

Winning Matamata rider Danielle Johnson has the mount again on Saturday.