Near triple dead-heat shows rookie improving but Fergie tips Leo, in blinds, is Tuesday’s best

Driver Peter Ferguson tips What’s Up The Hill ($3.60) only has to back up well to be a good second day chance after all but securing a rare triple dead-heat at Manawatu on Sunday.

When Ferguson hit the line behind Lincoln Farms’ rookie trotter he thought he’d beaten the favourite Koko Kaboom, and he was still happy enough when told it could be a dead-heat with 60-metre backmarker KD Royalty.

The world’s first triple dead-heat at Westport on December 27, 1957. Inside to out: Wimpy (J Butterick), Night Owl (G Cameron) and Keff (M Flaws).The finish was so close, racecaller Justin Evans pledge to eat his socks if it wasn’t a triple dead-heat, a result first posted at Westport on December 27, 1957.

“I would have been happy with that,” Ferguson said. “I thought it would be a dead-heat at worst, and it was, but I ended up running only third.

“But he’s done a really good job. I was chasing him as much as I could but I wanted to make sure he trotted all the way.”

What’s Up The Hill, who had switched into a pace in each of his first three starts, never looked like transgressing this time - even though he did pace when Ferguson eased up on him after the line.

“I suggested they put a loose headcheck on him after his last start and that definitely helped, stopping him from getting his head down when he got tired.

“That was a big improvement on last start - he’s certainly improving.”

What’s Up The Hill is in front a stride before the post, with Koko Kaboom, centre, and KD Royalty closing.Conscious he had a 40 to 60 metre head start on his main rivals, Ferguson said he allowed the What The Hill - Escapee gelding to bowl along at a speed that he was comfortable with and the resulting 2:04.4 mile rate showed just how fast the newly-laid track was playing.

“He’ll get there and will certainly win races, how many will depend on how much point-to-point speed he’s got, but that will come.

“He’ll be a chance again on Tuesday, as long as he backs up, and he seemed pretty relaxed after the race.

“But he’s a three-year-old having his first trip away and being a big, gangly type, he’ll get better with time.”

Leo best winning chance

Ferguson rates Leo Lincoln, in the second race, the best winning chance of the three Lincoln Farms runners he drives.

Leo Lincoln, who attracted betting as soon as the fixed odds betting opened on Monday morning - $4.60 in to $3.80 - has a big draw upgrade, moving up from the inside of the second row on Sunday to the pole position.

Ferguson said Leo Lincoln did as well as he could have in running third after becoming bottled up three back on the markers, closing well on a 28 last quarter.

“After that it was always going to be a one, two, three fence result” - leader Fredastaire, beating trailer Ha’penny and Leo Lincoln.

Leo Lincoln … blinds go on for Tuesday. PHOTO: Ange Bridson/Race Images.Ferguson said Leo Lincoln felt a lot sharper coming off the gate and, in what he believes will be a game-changer, the horse will be fitted with blinds on Tuesday.

“I’ll be coming out fast and trying to lead and the way he felt on the first day, and with the make-up of the field, I think he can.

“It’s taken a few runs to get him sharper this time in, he’s been a bit lacklustre, but this looks to be his best chance.

“The boys tell me when he was going 2:40 at Auckland he had the blinds on.”

Leo Lincoln posted some very fast times 12 months ago, clocking 2:40.9 at Alexandra Park one night when second to Hugotastic and 2:40 flat in winning at Cambridge.

“He’s ready to go.”

Lincoln Farms’ third runner, Onyx Shard ($5.50, $1,80) can’t buy a draw and will go from six again in the fourth race.

“She might have run only fourth on the first day but went massive really.”

Forced back from her wide gate, Onyx Shard was taking good ground off the leaders in the run home, finishing just a neck and a head behind runner-up Dixieland Delight.

“If she can just be one place closer in the running, she would go close.”