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.”
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Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Im Not The Maid
5.14pm
“She went pretty well last week considering they came a fast last half (56.3) and she sat parked from the 800. She’s back to the amateur grade, and should get a good run from the two draw, so hopefully we can get a bit of cash.”
Race 4: Dreams Of Eric
6.38pm
“He didn’t handle the right-handed bends at Auckland last week (galloping at the 300) so we’ll stick to Cambridge from now on. There’s a bit of gate speed in the race so Harry (Harrison Orange) should be able to sit in somewhere. I think he’s a good chance to run top three.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.59pm
“He’s racing very well. He would have run second last week (to American Me) had he not spooked at the winning post. These are tidy horses he’s racing against but he’s holding his own.”
Race 1: Kevin Kline
5.59pm
“He’ll go better back to a mobile start. He did well to finish so close last week after a slow start than having to do all the donkey work when parked for the last lap. Maurice really likes him because he just puts him into cruise control and he keeps going.”
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.58pm
“She’s not as good as the other filly but some lift their game when the money’s up so maybe she can pick up a cheque.”
Race 3: Lincoln’s Spice
6.58pm
“She looks a pretty decent chance of winning. She’s a real little tradesman, does nothing wrong, is easy to handle, is a nice drive, tries hard, is great gaited and has the potential to get stronger.”
Race 5: Tyson
7.51pm
“We found out he raced with a virus last time. The next morning snot was pouring out his nose and that’s why he didn’t finish it off as well as we expected. He only whacked away in the run home. With that gone, he should race better.”
Race 5: Johnny Lincoln
7.51pm
“I think he’ll be competitive and he’s the best of ours in the race. He won well last week and has trained on well. He’s promising. I couldn’t go as far as to say he’s a classic colt yet but we’ll find out soon enough.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.51pm
“He’s doing my head in. He had no excuse for breaking last week. Maurice (McKendry) didn’t blame the wet track. He said he was gliding along, travelling beautifully, when for no apparent reason he put in big steps. I’ll put a hood on him this time to see if it’s a nervous issue.”
Race 8: The Rascal
9.23pm
“All going well, he should win what is a poor maiden field. He’s elevated himself from the transfer list and is going well now. He doesn’t have huge gate speed, so he may not lead but he should get a good trip from one. On paper, he’s our best chance of the night.”
