Pool, treadmill, pony logs all in Stephen’s fun strategy for veteran’s Hawkes Bay Cup tilt

Lincoln King might be racing over a distance short of his best, and have a new rider to boot, but trainer Stephen Marsh is still expecting a bold run from the veteran in Saturday’s $100,000 Hawkes Bay Cup.

Since Lincoln King ran fifth in the Auckland Cup at Pukekohe nearly five weeks ago, Marsh has freshened him right up, for the drop back from 3200 metres to 2200 metres.

And he says the eight-year-old will be going south feeling full of himself.

“I’ve done everything to have him jumping out of his skin for a sharp 2200. I’ve been pretty light on him, he’s hardly had the saddle on him.

“He’s spent most of his time in the pool, done a bit of treadmill work, and popped over a few pony logs, and he’s going great guns.”

Even though Lincoln King has had only a few light canters, Marsh says he’s fully fit now after a 3200 metre preparation.

“He’s in a great space and I think he’ll race well.”

Marsh’s biggest worry has been finding a rider for Lincoln King, with three domestic meetings carded on Saturday - at Hastings, Te Rapa and Riccarton - and a number of jockeys suspended.

The horse’s Auckland Cup pilot Opie Bosson is riding in Sydney the same day, before attending James McDonald’s wedding to Katelyn Mallyon the next day.

“Then we had Ryan Elliot lined up but he’s having a week off, going hunting down south.”

In the end, Marsh opted for Bailey Rogerson who is enjoying her best season with 10 winners.

Rogerson, 21, has ridden 26 winners in her career and, with only 53.5kg, will get a 5.5kg pull in the weights from topweight and second favourite Colorado Star ($5).

Lincoln King, who is fourth equal fancy at $10, carries half a kilo more than the other two in the market, Fiery Flight ($3.80) and Waisake ($6).

Lincoln King’s last win was seven starts ago in the 2021 Wellington Cup but two starts back he ran an unlucky eye-catching third behind Aquacade in the Avondale Cup (2400m) after being clear late.