Lincoln Wave on the unruly at Cambridge to help him negotiate the standing start

Lincoln Wave has botched both his previous attempts from a standing start but senior Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green is hoping for some improvement at Cambridge on Friday night.

“We’ve put him on the unruly so he should get his chance,” Green said of the talented pacer.

Being one of the last to turn into line, with two other unruly horses on the 10 metre mark flanking him, should theoretically help Lincoln Wave step cleanly.

But he actually turned into line late on the front line when having his first try at Auckland in May, and still galloped for 125 metres before finding his gait.

He had some excuse in his second attempt at Cambridge three weeks later when tightened for room between fellow 10 metre runners, veering sideways before hitting his straps and losing so much ground he ran last.

Green is buoyed by the fact his regular driver Maurice McKendry has previously stated he believes the horse will cotton on to the technique.

Friday night’s stand-in driver Tony Cameron has yet to drive Lincoln Wave, but in his favour is the fact it is the first time Lincoln Wave has attempted a stand since being gelded.

Green admits he was hoping Lincoln Wave would run on a little stronger when he resumed at Auckland last week, trailing winner Mama’s Wish but losing second to Louezyana on the post.

But the 1700 metres was cut out in a very slick mile rate of 1:53.8, and Lincoln Wave was himself timed over his last 800 metres in 55.89 and 400 in 27.36.

With natural improvement after his three-month break, Lincoln Wave can be expected to offer plenty of fight if he gets away on terms, having beaten Cyclone Rebel in a Sires’ Stakes heat in one of his two wins on the course.

Timmy has a lot to learn

Green isn’t expecting Timmy Lincoln to make dramatic improvement in the third race, given how green he was on debut at Auckland last week, over-racing and pacing roughly in running last.

Green says the American Ideal colt has a lot to learn.

“He’d never seen that many horses on the track before and it did his head in.

“It was a funny race too, they walked and sprinted, it was a real stop-start race. When they sprinted he didn’t know what to do and started plaiting his legs.”

Timmy Lincoln had not trialled for three months before last week, Green opting to throw him into a race after the workouts were cancelled.

“He has to learn to run with a bigger field and he’ll be better if they roll along.”

Green isn’t sure what to think about Lincoln Farms’ only other runner on the night, Sugar Ray Lincoln, in the eighth race.

The four-year-old was one of the favourites last week, dropping way down in grade but could manage only sixth. “He hasn’t gone on like I thought he would but with a better trip he should be in it,” Green said.

Sugar Ray Lincoln showed little gate speed from the inside of the second row at Auckland and ended up last at the bell.

Driver Carter Dalgety mounted a solo three wide run from the 800 and, to the horse’s credit, he still ran the fastest last 800 in the race of 57.97.

Tony Cameron takes the reins on Friday night from two on the second row, where he will be relying on a good run through behind Midfrew Lucre.