Lincoln Lou, inner, looks to have won but he’s turned his head, letting Iron Brigade dead-heat. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Lincoln Lou just caught and shares win but Ray says he can do better with some tinkering
By Barry Lichter • 2 March 2025
Lincoln Lou might have win his last two starts but co-trainer Ray Green says he is still not racing as well as he can.
While happy enough that the colt earned $5992 when dead-heating at Auckland on Friday night, with no rating penalty, Green says he can go better.
“He should have won it outright and comfortably. He turned his head on the post and was travelling awkwardly.”
Lincoln Lou, who trailed the leader Matai Phil, looked set for another decisive win when he sprinted up the passing lane.
But driver Andre Poutama reported he had to nurse Lincoln Lou, who did not pace well over the last 600 metres, which allowed race rival Iron Brigade to reach him right on the line.
Lincoln Lou sprints up the passing lane but Iron Brigade, outer, is closing in. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.“He’s better than he’s racing lately,” Green said. “Even though he’s won his last two starts, he should really flog horses like that.
“Considering he obviously wasn’t on top of his game he went well, but he didn’t, if you get what I mean.
“Andre was happy to win but he knows he can go better.
“We’ve got a bit of repair work to do with him but these are just the little problems they present you. Hopefully we can rectify it.”
Green and his training partner Nathan Delany have three weeks to work on Lincoln Lou whose immediate target is the $200,000 Harness Millions at Auckland on March 21.
“We’ll just play it by ear whether he races again before then.”
Lincoln Lou has now had two wins and three seconds in his last six starts for John and Lynne Street and a number of their long time partners, including the Cantabrians Plus One Syndicate, the Excell Syndicate, the Green Machine Racing Syndicate, Phil Kelly, David Turner, Brad Baine, Alana Rabbitt, Margaret Rabbitt and the Athenry Syndicate.
From 19 starts, the three-year-old’s record stands at three wins and eight placings for $64,028 in stakes.
Colonel super
Later in the night, Colonel Lincoln raced out of his skin to be just pipped, despite being badly placed in the fastest class race of the night.
Taking on vastly better performed runners, Colonel Lincoln powered home from the rear with Rubira to go under by just a head and pay $6.20 for a place.
“It was a real step-up for him, no one really knew what to expect, but I couldn’t be happier.
“He got home super and it looks like he’ll measure up to those better horses. Mark (Purdon) really likes Rubira, so that’s a good yardstick.”
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.”
