Lincoln Sky will be getting plenty of cuddles during his R and R with Al and Cassie

Promising galloper Lincoln Sky has been at Marburg with Al Barnes for only a few days and already he is becoming a stable favourite.

Sent to Queensland to recover from a knee injury, he underwent surgery at a Beaudesert clinic last Monday when two bone chips were removed.

He will spend the next six months recuperating with Lincoln Farms’ harness trainer, confined to his box for the first four weeks.

“He’s a lovely quiet horse who likes to drop his head in your lap for a cuddle,’’ says Barnes who with partner Cassie Saunders is an old hand at giving rehab to injured horses.

In another three weeks Lincoln Sky will be let out into a small yard for a month before going into a larger paddock for four months’ complete rest. His rehab will start after that with countless hours of hand walking.

“It’s not hard, we just need to show a lot of patience and give him time to heal,” says Barnes.

“He’s got plenty of time - he’s only four - and is really just starting his career.”

Queensland vet David Ahern who operated on Lincoln Sky. PHOTO: SRVets.Even though Scenic Rim clinic surgeon Dr David Ahern gave Lincoln Sky only a “guided to fair” prognosis, a high proportion of horses who suffer bone chips resume successful careers.

When Ahern removed a bone fragment from the medial border of the third carpal bone he found extensive loss of cartilage, the reason for his conservative report. A smaller chip was also removed from the opposing edge of the distal radoiocarpal bone and loose fibrils trimmed.

During the horse’s recovery he will be given Kenacort, a synthetic corticosteroid to combat osteoarthritis and Hyaluronic Acid to alleviate joint friction.

Ongoing joint medication may also be required when he resumes work.

But even Randwick trainer John Sargent believes he is worth the effort, the $180,000 yearling buy having shown plenty of ability in the short time he was in Sydney.

In just eight starts in New Zealand for trainer Lisa Latta, the well related Savabeel gelding notched one win and two placings, his bold sixth in a strong Waikato Guineas line-up the best indicator of his staying potential.