
Lincoln La Moose has won two races at Cambridge including this one last December. PHOTO: Ange Bridson.
Return to left-handed racing will help Lincoln La Moose at Cambridge on Thursday night
A return to left-handed racing should see Lincoln La Moose outrun his $10 odds at Cambridge on Thursday night.
Bookies opened the four-year-old only sixth-equal favourite in a field of eight but co-trainer Ray Green believes he’s a better chance than that, despite tackling 2700 metres for the first time.
With co-trainer Nathan Delany at the helm in the junior drivers’ race, Lincoln La Moose breaks loose of Auckland company for the first time in five recent starts and returns to Cambridge where he has won two of his four races.
“He’ll go better left-handed,” Green said. “And it’s a weaker race, of course. He’s gone good races in much better company and, with a reasonable trip from six, he should be quite competitive.”
Lincoln La Moose finished a fair fifth at his last start behind the talented Captain’s Secret, despite being left parked out for much of the trip.
Green is looking forward to seeing what The Rascal ($11, $2.90) can do from a good alley in the second event, his first race for nearly seven months.
“He’s training very well and has had two workouts. He’s improving all the time and it wouldn’t surprise me if he was in the fray.
“He’s had a few gait issues in the past but he’s grown a bit now and I don’t see why he won’t go well. They’re not a stellar bunch.”
Green rates Dreams Of Eric ($13, $2.70) a better chance than Im Not The Maid ($7.50, $1.90) despite their contradictory odds in the fifth race.
“I expect Eric to be in it from the inside draw and he could easily win.”
Green said an opportunistic drive by gun junior Harrison Orange all but succeeded last time when he burrowed up the makers late to be beaten just two heads.
“It will be interesting to see how Im Not The Maid goes. She was well driven in the amateurs’ race last time (by John Kriechbaumer). That’s the type of drive she needs. She’s shown she can’t burn the candle at both ends.”
Stable driver Andre Poutama takes the reins on Thursday in a harder race, from four on the gate, his main opposition decisive last-start winner Won And Only and the talented first-up winner Pukunui Beach.
More news in Harness
Rivergirl Bella all the way at Cambridge in timely boost for hospitalised owner
Slow maturing Jessie Lincoln finally gets it done, not a bad job for a $3500 weanling buy
Forget Auckland, Ray’s girl Jessie can do a lot better at Cambridge on Thursday night
Rivergirl Maggie’s donning tighter gear on Friday night to attract Auckland punters
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Lincoln Downs
7.08pm
“She hasn’t shown much in two starts back and the wide draw doesn’t help so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Rivergirl Bella
7.39pm
“She should lead easily from one and be hard to beat. If she’d been a slot closer last time she would have won.”

Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.43pm
“Take no notice of that last run which was a non-event for him. Every time he went to go, something came out underneath him. He’s been going better recently and, with reasonable luck in a weaker field, he can be in it.”

