
Lincoln’s Girl, arrowed, makes a run five wide turning in despite having lost an early stretch, galloping out of the gate.
Naughty Girl will trial on Tuesday as Al tries new gear to settle her down
Trainer Al Barnes will trial Lincoln’s Girl on Tuesday with a couple of gear changes after she blew to bits behind the gate at Albion Park yesterday.
Barnes reports the Lincoln Farms owned filly was simply too keen in the score-up and pulled very hard before galloping on gate release.
“Hayden didn’t get the chance to even leave the gate,’’ said Barnes who planned to launch the filly from out wide and attack for the lead.
Barnes will now trial Lincoln’s Girl on Tuesday in a more severe bit and hopple shorteners in an effort to keep her settled.
And he will race Lincoln’s Girl three days later when she will hopefully have some of the mischief taken out of her, a fiery trait which often saw her spoil her chances in New Zealand.
The trial will also serve to tick off one of the two out-of-draw barrier positions she was dealt after her misdemeanour yesterday.
Barnes says, gallop apart, he was really happy with the way Lincoln’s Girl performed yesterday when she was obviously switched on after her first-up win the previous week.
“For her to even catch up, let alone look like she might run into the placings at one stage, was a big effort considering the winner went a mile rate of 1:52.8.
“She got tired up the straight but was entitled to.’’
Lincoln’s Girl was allowed to coast home in seventh spot behind white hot favourite Regulus.
She still clocked the third fastest closing 800 metres in the race of 57.3 behind Regulus, 55.6, and runner-up Golddigger Girl, 56.94.
How Lincoln’s Girl compared on the clock yesterday.
More news in Harness
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Sliding blinds go on Sammy Lincoln, a hot favourite for the Lincoln Farms Pace
Little Missy can lead at Cambridge on Friday and she’s much more reliable than Sammy
Richer targets for little bargain Missy Lincoln after commanding fresh-up Auckland win
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Copy Ten Four
5.52pm
“He got a bit tired last week but he didn’t stop. With a better draw this time, hopefully he’ll hold up in front and we can see what he’s got. He’s a good maiden and we haven’t seen the best of him yet, he’s a big horse who is still learning.”
Race 5: Colonel Lincoln
6.54pm
“You’d have to rate him the best horse in the field and he’s race fit now. And I thought he was pretty good last time. Drawing the outside makes it tougher but if Nathan (Delany) can secure a decent trip, he’d have to be a serious chance.”
Race 8: Leo Lincoln
8.23pm
“He’ll go another honest race but it’s hard to see him winning in that field where he’s at such a disadvantage in the ratings.”

