Lincoln Moonlight bright Singapore prospect

Leading Singapore trainer Shane Baertschiger is predicting a bright future for Lincoln Moonlight who should go close in the second race at Kranji on Sunday. (5.20pm NZ time)

Baertschiger, who leads the premiership with 46 wins, plans to set Lincoln Moonlight for the rich three-year-old series which starts in March.

Lincoln Farms’ trainer Shane Baertschiger is leading this season’s premiershipAnd, judging by the courage he showed when third on debut, Baertschiger says he won’t be surprised if Lincoln Moonlight wins on Sunday, despite running in a field with plenty of form.

The Alamosa colt debuted on the polytrack at Kranji a month ago and excelled in finishing only 1.8 lengths from the winner Revolution after a torrid run.

Drawn one from the outside in gate 11, Lincoln was first stuck out three wide, then parked outside the leader.

“I thought he’d drop out with the run he had,’’ says Baertschiger.

“That’s not the way to ride him. We’ve found in both his trackwork and his trials he’s better ridden off the pace.

“He has a good draw on Sunday (five) and we’ll ride him behind the speed.

“The shift from the polytrack to the turf will suit him better too.

“It’s quite a strong field but he’s trained on well and it wouldn’t surprise me if he won.’’

Baertschiger says Lincoln Moonlight has impressed him since the day he landed in Singapore.

“He shows a fair bit of promise. He’s bred to run a mile and further and whether second-up over 1200 metres is too short, we’ll find out.

“I’ll hopefully give him another two races after this then tip him out. It’s too long to keep him in work until the three-year-old series.’’

Singapore’s Three-Year-Old Challenge starts on March 30 with the Group III S$250,000 Sprint (1200m), is followed by the Group II S$500,000 Classic (1400m) on April 22 and climaxes with the Group I S$1 million Guineas (1600m) on May 26.

The Lincoln Farms partnership which races Lincoln Moonlight are sure to congregate for those features which would bring together old friends John Street and Peter Jaffares, who both owned Pak ’N’ Save supermarkets back in the day, and fellow mate Ian Middleton, business manager for Lincoln Farms.

Road’s foot on the till despite his old joints

Lincoln Road … helped by better gateBaertschiger also lines up Lincoln Farms’ best Singapore performer Lincoln Road in the fourth race (6.20pm NZ time) on Sunday and says it’s his big chance to revisit the winners’ circle.

“He’s had terrible draws in his last two starts. He would have won last time with a good draw.’’

From gate two on Sunday, with John Powell aboard, Baertschiger says Lincoln Road will be hard to beat.

Lincoln Road, by Swiss Ace, left New Zealand a maiden and won his first five starts in Singapore, pitching him into a tough grade.

At his best he ran second in the Group III Garden City Trophy in 2016, but he’s now seven and has battled a joint problem from wear and tear since the end of his last prep.

“But he is going well at the moment and has his foot on the till. This is his best chance for some time.’’

Shane hoping the shades will fire up Lincoln City

LIncoln City … needs to improveBaertschiger is hoping Lincoln Farms’ Friday runner Lincoln City will improve with the addition of blinkers.

Lincoln City, raced in the same partnership as Lincoln Moonlight, runs in the second race (10.50pm NZ time) where he has the advantage of the inside gate.

“But he needs to improve. He hasn’t shown a lot since he’s been here - his first race was poor and even his trials were poor.

“I’ve put blinkers on him to see if I can spark him up.’’

Baertschiger was hoping to run Lincoln City on Sunday on the turf track, suspecting he might be one of the group of horses who don’t handle the polytrack.

But when he was balloted out, he was forced to run on the poly again on Friday.

“We’ll get him on the turf at his next start and see what he can do.’’

Bruce’s pair ‘watch and see’

O’Reilly Bay … first test over 2000 metresEx-pat Kiwi trainer Bruce Marsh lines up two horses for Lincoln Farms on Sunday, O’Reilly Bay and Pratt Street, both seemingly out of form.

O’Reilly Bay has the light weight Marsh says he needs in the fifth race (6.50pm NZ time) but this week is more “watch and see” as he tests the horse over 2000 metres for the first time.

“He’s a one-paced horse who has won over 1700 metres and I’m expecting a good race but you can’t label him.’’

O’Reilly Bay won impressively six starts back on the polytrack and Marsh says he’s been ridden badly a few times since.

Marsh says he couldn’t have been happier with Pratt Street’s final gallop under Craig Grylls and he came off the track pig-rooting so is in great heart for the 11th race (10.05pm NZ time).

“He is a good track worker and is in mint condition but he needed a (good) barrier.’’

Stuck out in 13, Pratt Street will find it tough, says Marsh.

“He normally settles back and runs home well but last time he missed it a shade, after a horse played up beside him. The apprentice dug him up and he started over-racing with his mouth wide open and didn’t finish off.

“When he gets a draw he’ll be hard to beat but that’s the story of his life.’’

Singapore’s excellent prizemoney makes it one of the best places in the world to race horses