Lincoln’s Girl is pushed off the track turning for home on Tuesday but did her best work late.
Lincoln’s Girl only has to be running on strongly to get the big tick again from Al
By Barry Lichter • 24 April 2019
Lincoln’s Girl will be tested from the outside of the gate at Albion Park on Friday but only has to repeat her run of Tuesday to satisfy trainer Al Barnes that she’s on the right track.
The Lincoln Farms owned filly might have finished only seventh last start but she was forced to start outside the draw after her previous gallop and ended up near the rear of the field.
Shunted out five wide on the home turn when mounting a run from the back, Lincoln’s Girl impressed driver Hayden Barnes with her strong finishing final 100 metres.
“She settled well, drove well and finished well off some good sectionals - 56.5 and 28.3 - so I was very happy.
“And she had a good blow afterwards so she’s still improving.’’
Barnes says to see Lincoln’s Girl still winding up after sprinting for 300 metres augurs well for her future.
“If she has a nice strong 400 metres in her then we’ll be right.’’
With Hayden committed to driving the horse he owns, Auckland Reactor debutante Dream Reaction, Lincoln’s Girl will be piloted by Chris Geary, a worthy stand-in according to Barnes.
“He doesn’t know her but if she can just be running on again, that’s all we want to see.’’
Safely through Friday’s race, Lincoln’s Girl can return to the draw and be more competitive at her next start.
Lincoln’s Girl lines up in the third race at 3.53pm NZ time.
More news in Harness
Hubby nearly in the dog box after Tyson delivers Debbie a Golden Gait knockout blow
Debbie lands Golden draw at last in her bid to give Sampson a haircut at the Park
Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.22pm
“She got home really well on the second night at Manawatu and gets a good draw here. There’s not much exposed form in the race so it’s hard to know how she compares but she’ll win one.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Debbie Lincoln
7.01pm
“I thought she went super again last week with no luck and we’ve got a decent draw for a change so you have to like her chances. She’s been getting in on the corners, so we’ve added a Murphy blind.”
Race 3: Tyson
7.01pm
“I was impressed by the way he hung on to Captain Sampson and Greased Lightnin last week. They’re strong sprinters and it was only a sprint up the straight. He’ll need things to go his way from six.”
Race 3: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.01pm
“It was his first run for a while last week and he probably needed another trial. But we thought we might as well race him to set him up for this week. The outside draw of eight doesn’t help.”
Race 9: Lincoln Lover
9.55pm
“He’s not as sharp as our other two but he’s a game little bugger. He’ll win races for sure.”
Race 9: Prince Lincoln
9.55pm
“I thought he went really well last week. He’d had only one trial and was a bit fresh so it was understandable that he got tired the last bit. That will tighten him up and I’m expecting him to race well. He’s trained on well since.”
Race 9: Johnny Lincoln
9.55pm
“Prince has the wood on Johnny but he’ll still go well. He found the line well last week. It was his first run for a while too, and his first as a gelding.”
