Polished display by Lincoln Farms’ precocious colts augurs well for Young Guns series

Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green looks to be in for a profitable season with his new two-year-olds judging by the polished display that a three-strong vanguard put on at yesterday’s Pukekohe workouts.

Running at speed in public for the first time, Platinum Stride, Vanquish Stride and Bondi Shake looked like seasoned pros rather than rookie pacers as they went to the line locked together at the finish of a tidy mile.

Just heads separated the trio with Platinum Stride’s late sprint up the marker pegs getting him home for Zachary Butcher.

The Captaintreacherous colt, who was named Captain Arden when Sydney’s Emilio Roasti paid $82,500 for him at the Christchurch yearling sale in February, trailed third in the running and came through impressively in the straight.

“He shows a bit more quick speed than the others at this stage,” says Green.

“I really like the Captaintreacherous babies, three of my top six are by him.”

Green says Captain Nemo (Captaintreacherous - Arden Caviar), bought by Lincoln Farms’ John Street for $110,000, is as good as yesterday’s three.

“To save getting another driver I trained him myself before the trials and he went well. He’s a nice big colt who does everything right.

“Captaintreacherous is doing a job in the United States and I think he’ll do the same here. They’ll be hot property at the sales next year.”

Green says his $55,000 filly Spice It Up, by Captaintreacherous out of Soul Sister, is also showing real ability but is on a break at present.

Vanquish Stride, all horse, with a $170,000 price tag.Yesterday’s runner-up Vanquish Stride, who made the pace yesterday, looked every inch a sale topper as he stretched out stylishly for Andre Poutama.

“He was the sale topper in Christchurch so he’s got everything where it should be - great conformation and pedigree.”

By Bettor’s Delight out of 11-race winner Pemberton Shard, he went through the ring as The Shard and after spirited bidding fell to Rosati for $170,000.

“He’s a chunky little guy. He hasn’t grown as much as I thought he would, but he’s all horse.”

Bondi Shake, who trailed yesterday for David Butcher, has always been a favourite of Greens from the time he first saw him on a bus trip round South Island vendors before the sales.

Green stole him for $28,000.

“I’ve never been a big fan of the Somebeachsomewheres but this one’s different. He’s just a class individual.”

Bondi Shake was never put under any pressure yesterday as the trio ran their last 800 in 62 and 400 in 29.8, completing the mile in 2:07.9, very respectable time for so early in the season.

“We’re just schooling them at the moment. We won’t be asking them for any records for a while,” says Green.

“They’ve been in work for a long time and are way ahead of most of the other two-year-olds around but hopefully someone will come and play with us soon.

“If you want two-year-olds you’ve got to start training them six months out. Most people mess around giving them one month in and one month out, and then they end up playing catch-up for the rest of the year.”

Green says he has some quality stock to work with this season, some obviously more precocious than others, and on potential are right up with last year’s band.

“They’ve arrived in a timely manner, on schedule, and we should be good to go when the money’s up.”

Ace Commander … shaping up well in new prep.Ace up the sleeve

In other workouts yesterday, intermediate trotter Ace Commander continued his improvement after a decent break with a close fourth behind topliners Paramount King, Temporale and Massive Metro.

Ace Commander again showed speed for David Butcher, taking up the running in the 2500 metre heat and sticking on well when they came at him in the run home to finish just one and three-quarter lengths from winner Paramount King, who clocked 3:18.5, a mile rate of 2:07.7. The closing sectionals were 59.3 and 28.1.

“David said he was much improved on his previous run. “That was a good test for him. Those horses are as good as he’ll have to front up to so it was very encouraging.

“But he’ll need one or two more yet as he’s still porky. I don’t want to go to the races with him half-cocked.”

Ace Commander is on the way back after an operation on an entrapped epiglottis which hampered him in his two runs for Green in June.

Lindi Lincoln also did well to run third against better performed opposition in the up-to-rating 62 2050 metre heat.

Beginning well for David Butcher, the mare quickly eased to trail four-race winner Parker and while gathered in late by the very promising Henry Hu, she was only one and three-quarter lengths from Parker who paced 2:35.7, a mile rate of 2:02.2, home in 57.8 and 27.4.

“David said he never pulled her off Parker’s back and he was very happy with her run.

“She’s a good honest mare who doesn’t do much wrong, no world-beater, but she hasn’t finished winning yet.”

Lindi Lincoln won her last start at Cambridge nine days ago.