Lincoln Raider can grab a consolation cup at Trentham on Saturday

Lincoln Farms can win a cup at Trentham tomorrow but it’s not likely to be the Wellington Cup.

Kamanda Lincoln ($21) might as well be 100-to-one now he has drawn one from the outside in the 3200 metre feature, but classy stablemate Lincoln Raider looks well placed to win the last race on the card, the Douro Cup.

Trainer Lisa Latta groaned when the Wellington Cup barrier draw came out, knowing Kamanda Lincoln’s chances rested entirely on drawing handy.

“He needed everything to go his way and now we’ll have to go back and get cover.

“He really ground his way to the line last week (when fourth in the Trentham Strakes) which is what you want to see in a horse lining up over 3200 metres a week later.

“We’ve been waiting for our chance to get him up to two miles but he’s going to need a lot of luck now and a magic ride by Sam Collett.’’

Lincoln Raider loves Trentham with its long home straight. PHOTO: Race Images.Lincoln Raider’s new rider Leith Innes, on the other hand, will be instructed specifically to go back to the tail in the Douro Cup, even though he has drawn three in the $40,000 race.

Latta is convinced Lincoln Raider ($3, $1.40) performs best when left alone early and is allowed to come with one run in the home stretch.

You can put a line through Lincoln Raider’s last start at Ellerslie when as well as striking a heavy 10 track he hit the running rail several times near the 1000 metre mark when rider Opie Bosson was midfield and pushing up inside horses.

Lincoln Raider found little up the home straight and Bosson reported he was stepping gingerly when coming back to scale.

“We need to ride him quieter,’’ says Latta who believes the return to a good track and Trentham with its long run home will play into the horse’s hands.

Lincoln Raider’s two most recent wins came at Trentham and saw him unleash electric late sprints from well back, the last one under Bosson who cannot ride the horse on Saturday because he is suspended.

After the first of those wins last October, when he came from an impossible position near last on the rails, overseas agents started talking huge money for the horse.

Stablemate Father Lenihan, who is carded to oppose Lincoln Raider, is unlikely to start, Latta reporting he is only 80% right today.

The horse pulled up sore after a good gallop on Tuesday morning and was found to have a bruised foot.

Platinum Invador bolts home in his first try over a middle distance at Otaki. PHOTO: Race Images.Latta fancies up-and-coming three-year-old Platinum Invador ($4.20, $1.70) as Lincoln Farms’ next best winning chance even though he is up a rating band on Saturday.

Latta says Platinum Invador has taken no harm from his last run at Otaki when he cruised home by three lengths in his first tilt over a middle distance.

Midfield on the rails early, rider Robbie Hannam angled out 500 metres from home and Platinum Invador sustained a big run right to the line.

“His work this week has been very good and he’s a really nice staying horse. If he can even run in the first three against the older horses it would be a great effort.’’

Platinum Invador gets into Saturday’s 2200 metre test with 56.5kg, only 1kg above the minimum and 1kg less than he carried last time.

All going well Platinum Invador could advance to the $100,000 Avondale Guineas at Ellerslie on February 16 en route to the $1 million New Zealand Derby on March 2.

Form misleading

Platinum Mam’selle ($12, $3.30) gets the nod as the third best chance of Lincoln Farms’ likely six runners, despite meeting some promising rivals in the opening race.

At first glance she would appear to have the worst form in the race but the mare has had no luck in all three runs this campaign.

• First-up at Trentham in December she was murdered three wide with no cover in a six-horse race - on a slow track which she detests.
• Next time out at Awapuni on December 15, she was still last 200 metres out and sprouted wings to run an unlucky third, a head and a long neck from winner All In Mana.
• And last time at Stratford on December 29 she had to go back from a wide gate and was held up in traffic until halfway down, flying late when finally clearing heels.

Platinum Mam’selle scoring at the Trentham meeting 12 months ago. PHOTO: Race Images.“There appears to be a lot of speed in the race which will suit her pattern of racing which is to get back and finish over the top of them,’’ says Latta. “She has trained on well after her unlucky run at Stratford and is back against her own age group on Saturday in a small field.’’

Platinum Mam’selle’s last win was at this meeting last year.

Latta says Lincoln Sky will take his place in the sixth race on Saturday after pleasing her with his recovery from last week’s placing at Trentham.

“He’s a very genuine horse.’’