Enjoying the win, Excell syndicate members, from left, Christine Stuart, Margaret Rabbitt, Christine Rupp and Lynda Irwin-Parsons.
Loyal supporters share in the thrill of Lou’s first win - thanks to a pearler from Andre
By Barry Lichter • 9 March 2024
Some of Lincoln Farms’ most loyal supporters shared in the excitement of Lincoln Lou’s first win at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
Thanks to a great tactical drive by Andre Poutama, Excell syndicate boss Christine Stuart found herself making another speech in the hospitality room after Lincoln Lou stole the second race with some pedestrian sectionals.
The 10-member group of women, all originally from Hunua, who got together 20 years ago to outdo their husbands, who were involved in racing syndicates, have raced numerous winners since in partnership with Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street.
Lincoln Farms’ owner John Street, left, with one of his partners Phil Kelly pose with Lincoln Lou.And joining them in this latest colt are also long-time Lincoln Farms partners from the South Island, the Green Machine Racing syndicate and the Athenry syndicate, along with the Cantabrians Plus One syndicate, Margaret and Alana Rabbitt, Brad Baine, Phil Kelly and David Turner.
Stuart thanked Turner, in particular, as one of the Auckland Trotting Club stewards who always made them feel welcome in their post-race celebrations.
The group didn’t have to wait long for Lincoln Lou to salute the judge, the little colt triumphing in only his second start and first at Alexandra Park.
Trainer Ray Green wasn’t in the least bit surprised by the early success, after his solid debut at Cambridge when the fancied Tony Herlihy pair of Great White and Roy Kent bettered him in what was only a sprint home.
“I thought he was a chance if he led tonight but I did wonder what Andre was doing when he went round the field. But as it turned out, it was the winning move.”
Poutama quickly extricated himself from fourth on the markers and moseyed forward during a sedate 33.4 second quarter to take up the running at the bell.
And after he was allowed to crawl through the next 400 down the back in only 32.1, his rivals were really up against it as he motored home in a 27.9 quarter.
Lincoln Lou (Andre Poutama) has plenty in reserve to beat Sadhaka. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.“He did it easily in the end,” Poutama said. “And there was still a wee bit there at the finish.”
Lincoln Lou only had to run the 1700 metres in 2:09.1, a mile rate of 2:02.2 to score by half a length from the trailing Sadhaka and southern debutant Justyouwait who sprinted fast and late down the outside.
Lincoln Farms paid $40,000 for the Sweet Lou colt as a yearling, familiar with his family having previously raced (Let’s) Strike The Gold for 15 wins here and in Australia.
But by far the most famous of dam Sea The Gold’s progeny was (The) Gold Ace who won 22 races including six Group One features.
Lincoln Farms went back to the well last month buying his Downbytheseaside half brother for $62,500.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Spirited Belle
4.46pm
Delany: “I saw she’d been punted but somebody must know something we don’t as I’ve been working her myself and, while she feels all right and hasn’t put the boot in like at Auckland, I think she’ll need the run. She hasn’t got any high speed but feels like she will stay. She has improved a bit but I’d be surprised if she won.”
Race 1: Lincoln Maree
4.46pm
“It’s always hard from these draws but she’s a tough mare who will make her own luck at some stage. She’s going well enough - her drivers have all been happy - and she’s a little warrior who tries like hell.”
Race 2: Major Copy
5.12pm
“He’s only two and very inexperienced but he feels like a good colt and there’s a lot of improvement in him. He certainly caught a lot of people’s attention last time. I don’t know how good he is yet but he’ll be right there.”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.12pm
“If he can lead without having to do too much work I can’t see anything beating him. I thought he went great last start. He pressed the winner hard ’til the corner then just flattened out in the run home, but he had every reason to do that after all the work he’d done.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.12pm
“She’s been undone by bad draws. If she led easily from three she’d be hard to beat as she’s a good front-runner.”
Race 4: Spirited Peggy
6.12pm
“We’ve had her for only two weeks but she’s seven now and has had her chance to win one. She has a bit of speed but I think she gets pulling so we’ve got the Hidez (compression) hood on her and plugged her ears up.”
Race 6: Copy N Paste
7.10pm
“We won’t see the best of him for another six months. He’s been a slow developing horse but is improving all the time and getting stronger.”
Race 6: Jessie Lincoln
7.10pm
“If I was having a bet on one of them in the race it would be her. She deserves to win one. Her last two have been really good - she just ran into one who was a bit slicker last time in Major Copy.”
Race 6: Lincoln Dealer
7.10pm
“He’s a bit one-dimensional - you’ve got to feed him track and let him run - so the second row draw is a big handicap. To his credit I was surprised he finished so close last time after all the work he did. When he gets a decent draw and crosses them they’ll know they’re at the races. He’s got a big motor and tries hard.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.08pm
“She clawed her way to the front last time but had nothing left at the finish. That won’t happen this time and she should lead easily from one.”
Race 8: Angelic Copy
8.08pm
“She’s had terrible draws but has been going good races. The others last time were just better than her but this is a big drop in class. With the right trip she could get some of it at huge odds.”
Race 9: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.35pm
“He’s not quick away from a stand but he won’t muff it completely. He steps from the front line and Peter Ferguson was quite happy with his last run.”
Race 9: Lincoln Wave
8.35pm
“He bombed the stand the first time but to be fair all those horses were rushing up at him from the back and that panicked him a bit. He’s on 10 metres this time so that won’t happen.”
