Ray: Little Leo’s no star but he’s the kind of horse everybody would love to own

Little Leo Lincoln might not be in the top echelon of three-year-olds but trainer Ray Green says he’d still love to own him outright.

Green races the Art Major gelding with Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street, Ian Middleton, Glenn and Ann Cotterill and Phil Kelly and says he’s the kind of horse everybody would love to own.

Though he registered only his fourth win at Cambridge last Thursday night he took his earnings to $43,760 because he’s never far from the money.

In 21 starts Leo’s also racked up four seconds, three thirds, three fifths and five sixths, never failing to raise the adrenalin of his owners.

“He’s a good, little horse and has been right from the start. I could have had a share in him or Lincoln La Moose but chose Leo because he was the more forward.

Leo Lincoln looked the goods even as a weanling.“He looked pretty good even as a weanling - at $27,000 he was one of the top lots of that sale.

“He hasn’t grown into a big horse like I thought he would, he’s small to average size, but you don’t have to be big to be good in this game.

“He’s getting stronger all the time and, while he’ll obviously have to lift his game a little further down the road, I think he’ll be competitive at Auckland.”

Only one of Leo Lincoln’s wins have so far come at Alexandra Park but he’s run with distinction against some talented rivals there.

“It’s his speed that will carry him. We know he’s got some speed and that’s where the favourite at Cambridge the other night (Irish Whispers) was vulnerable. While he’s a pretty nice horse, he seems to lack quick speed.”

So when Green saw driver Maurice McKendry land the one-one trail last week, he knew Leo would be a good chance to reel in the leader.

“I can’t believe more people don’t want to buy him. We had one inquiry yesterday but, even though we still don’t know what’s happening with the industry here, we don’t really want to sell him. We’ve sold quite a few of ours recently.”

In recent weeks two former Lincoln Farms intermediate graders have been in winning form across the Tasman, Simply Sam at Menangle in 1:51.3 and Lincoln River at Maryborough in 1:54.4.

“Frankie Major’s apparently ready to go too.”