Rocknroll has the Beaudiene winning stamp and our Merv’s bought a piece of him

Trainer Ray Green says it’s too soon to know which one of his colts will go best in Friday night’s first two-year-old race of the season at Auckland - but there’s one clue which will see Beaudiene Rocknroll well supported.

Lincoln Farms has three of the seven runners in the seventh race, Lincoln River, Frankie Major and Beaudiene Rocknroll, all with good form in lead-up workouts and trials.

But the fact one of Australasia’s biggest owners, Merv Butterworth, has just bought a quarter share of Beaudiene Rocknroll, and Green tried to get into the horse himself, tells you the stable likes him.

Green, who sold top pacer Copy That to Butterworth after he scored his second win and has been campaigning the horse in Victoria, says Butterworth asked him about Beaudiene Rocknroll after hearing him on a phone call home, talking about the horse.

Ever since Southland breeder Dave Kennedy sent the horse north to Lincoln Farms he hasn’t stopped improving.

“He’s a lovely colt and, while he can get a little hot sometimes, he has good manners. But it’s early days yet. There are four or five of ours who go well and I wouldn’t like to single out who’s best yet.”

Green, however, has a soft spot for Beaudiene Rocknroll’s family, having already had success with a number of them.

The colt’s dam Beaudiene Babe had already left 22-race winner Beaudiene Bad Babe and Guns N Roses (13 wins) before Lincoln Farms started buying yearlings out of her.

Their first, Beaudiene Boaz, was sold to Perth after his third win from seven starts here, in the 2014 Harness Jewels Two-Year-Old Emerald at Cambridge. He retired with 25 wins and A$1.25 million in earnings.

Then came Beaudiene Beaufighta, who won on debut in 2015 and was sold three starts later, also to Perth, where he won another seven times from only 14 starts.

The third, Beaudiene Western, was also sold for big money to Perth after winning twice here.

More recently Green trained Beaudiene Blinkz for Kennedy but she had issues and raced only once before being sent home.

Green isn’t fazed by the fact that Beaudiene Rocknroll is by the less popular sire A Rocknroll Dance.

“While the best two were by Badlands Hanover, the mare has been bred to lots of different stallions and left good ones.”

Beaudiene Rocknroll has featured in both his two lead-up runs:

• He finished strongly from the trail for second in a tame workout at Pukekohe on December 28 and
• Won his sole trial on January 8, showing nice speed to lead throughout, and stave off a late run from race rival Two Eye See, in a faster 2:03.2 mile, home in 28.1.

He has drawn worst of the Lincoln Farms’ trio in five and, as Green points out, luck in the running can often decide the early baby dashes.

But he is still predicting a good run from the colt who will be raced by Dave and Dawn Kennedy, Merv and Meg Butterworth and Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street.

Frankie Major and Zachary Butcher will be hard to topple. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Art Major colt Frankie Major, who comes out of an easier gate three, quickly established himself as one of Lincoln Farms’ three most precocious youngsters.

He won learner heats on December 11 and December 18 in mile rates of 2:08.1 and 2:05.7 before taking on a tougher trial last Friday.

Frankie Major trailed a much hotter speed and was handled quietly by driver Maurice McKendry when a little awkward on the final bend, finishing fourth, seven and a half lengths from winner Merlin and race rival Seve. The 1609 metres was run in a swift 2:00.1, the leaders home in a very slick 26.3.

Green says while the camp wasn’t 100% happy with the horse that day, he needed the outing, his first test in a month, and wasn’t pushed.

Lincoln River is out of the very good performer Ideal Belle. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Lincoln River, drawn best of the trio in two, is as good as any of his stablemates, says Green.

“He’s out of that good mare Ideal Belle and being a Bettors (Delight) should go further on raceday.”

Lincoln River is only the second foal and first colt out of the 2014 New Zealand Oaks winner Ideal Belle who is a half sister to the triple Group I winner Five Card Draw, both of whom were trained by Barry Purdon.

Lincoln River, placed in two tame workouts late last year, finished third in a 1609 metre trial last Friday behind race rival Notorious R B G in 2:02.2.

“All three go really well, they’re good pacers and, while I think we’ve got quite a good bunch this year, it’s hard to work out where they stand until they front up to the other horses. Tony’s ones go well (Herlihy lines up Seve and Notorious R B G).

“Some will rise to the occasion, others won’t.”

Maurice McKendry drives Lincoln River, David Butcher pilots Frankie Major and Todd Mitchell will take the reins on Beaudiene Rocknroll.