Rapper singing in the rain as wet conditions favour a number of Lincoln Farms’ runners

Persistent rain this week has played right into the hands of Platinum Rapper who looks the best of several Lincoln Farms runners expected to improve on wet ground at Awapuni on Saturday.

Trainer Lisa Latta withdrew Platinum Rapper from last Sunday’s Masterton Cup, which looked set to be run on firmish ground, in favour of this week as her final lead-in to the $70,000 Manawatu Breeders, the weight-for-age fillies and mares’ 2000 metre feature on April 9.

A week of wet weather has left the Awapuni track in Platinum Rapper’s favourite slow range, the ground a slow 8 this morning. And even with only another 6ml forecast before Saturday’s meeting, Latta doesn’t expect conditions to get much better than a slow 7.

Lisa Latta … rain will help a number of Lincoln Farms’ runners at Awapuni on Saturday.“We’ve had a lot of sun in between showers but the best I could see the track getting is on the better side of slow.”

That will provide Platinum Rapper with the perfect springboard into the following Friday’s feature race, though Latta is also bullish about her chances on Saturday after a fine gallop on Tuesday.

Latta nominated Platinum Rapper for both the Awapuni Gold Cup and the rating 74 1600 but will avoid the 2000 metre feature even if she regains the field from the ballot.

“We’re peaking her for the Breeders and she won’t have as tough a run in the mile compared with the Awapuni Gold Cup.”

Platinum Rapper’s form might look patchy but the 10th was in the Listed Marton Cup and the previous eighth in the much harder Group III Manawatu Cup.

And when she resumed from a two month freshener at Awapuni on March 6, she looked right back to her talented best despite the dead 4 footing, sitting on the quarters of the leader all the way over 1600 metres and swamped only late to finish just a short head and a long head from second.

Latta is pleased with the way the mare has come on since: “She is well in herself and galloped nicely on Tuesday morning on the course proper.”

Paired with good galloper Sir Nate, Platinum Rapper clocked 1:06.5 for her 1000 metres, the last 600 in 35.8.

Latta has gained a 1kg relief for Platinum Rapper’s 59kg handicap by engaging top apprentice Kozzi Asano to ride the mare.

Lincoln Star in the purple colours unleashes the fastest last 200 metres in the race for Opie Bosson at Ellerslie last start.She gives stablemate Lincoln Star a solid chance in the same race, despite his 16 draw.

“He’s fit and feeling really well, he gets in at a nice enough weight (57.5kg) and Jonathan (Riddell) is back on and he has won two races on him.

“He operates a bit better with the fire out of the ground and he hasn’t had all favours in his last two starts.”

Two starts back Lincoln Star was bottled up all the way down the Ellerslie straight and last time he got caught back on a slow pace and did well to run seventh, running the fastest last 200 metres.

Latta is looking forward to seeing how Lincoln’s Kruz copes with a rise in class in the fourth race after his excellent last start win.

“He’s absolutely thriving and his work on Tuesday was fantastic. He looks the best and strongest that I’ve ever had him and, even though this is a step up in class, I expect him to put his best foot forward again.

“I don’t expect the off track to worry him and having an inside draw earlier in the day should be of no concern.”

The track at Trentham was a dead 4 when Lincoln’s Kruz won but his previous good third at Otaki was in slow 7 footing.

Latta rates Platinum Bordeaux (race one) as the best roughie for Lincoln Farms.

“Dead to slow footing is what she’s been looking for.”