Muddled Im Not The Maid can serve it up to them this time at Cambridge on Tuesday

Novice three-year-old Im Not The Maid had a legitimate excuse for finishing only fourth at Cambridge last week.

And while Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green says the filly is no champion, he believes she can finish in the money in the third race there on Tuesday night.

Punters who sent out Im Not The Maid second favourite last Tuesday were on good terms with themselves when driver Andre Poutama looped the field to lead down the back straight the first time.

But, having only her second start, the filly shied at an infield lighting generator near the 1200 metres and galloped turning into the home straight.

Im Not The Maid is leading but shies at the infield generator and turns her head before galloping.It was more than 100 metres later before she hit her hopples again, finding herself three back on the markers and basically out of winning contention.

While 10 lengths from the third horse at the finish, Poutama didn’t persevere with the horse down the home straight when a clear fourth.

“It was just one of those things,” Green said. “Hopefully it won’t happen again. She generally does things right, she’s pretty honest.

“She’s in a grade where she’ll be one of the hardest to beat and it’s a pretty average bunch.”

Green said Im Not The Maid, who finished a good second on debut, sprint-laned only by hot favourite Papenhuyzen, had trained on well.

She starts from six, for the third time in a row, but has shown enough early tactical speed to find a competitive position.

The two draw should ensure stable battler Commander Lincoln also secures a good spot in the running in the opening race for amateurs.

Commander Lincoln’s best form has been in the weaker amateur races and two starts back he powered home to be beaten only a neck and a head by race rival Desert Dawn at Auckland.

The four-year-old contested a stronger junior drivers’ race last time at Cambridge and, while capably handled by Fergus Schumacher, only battled into seventh.

“The boy drove him well. He is what he is. He lacks a yard of speed. You just feed him the track and see what happens.”