Second row draws against Prince Lincoln and Spiritual Bliss but they’re still favourites

A raft of second row draws will see Lincoln Farms trainers Ray Green and Nathan Delany relying on plenty of luck at Cambridge on Friday night.

In-form Spiritual Bliss ($4.60) surprisingly has held favouritism for the fourth race, despite drawing the inside of the second row, and the bookies opened Prince Lincoln ($1.75) a hot favourite from two on the second row in the second race.

And, if that wasn’t annoying enough, last week’s all-but winner Lincoln Lover ($7) has to contend with three on the second row in the eighth race and unlucky placegetter Lincoln Maree ($19) starts on the inside of the second row alongside Prince Lincoln.

Green is philosophical about the bad alleys: “Obviously it’s always tricky negotiating trips from second line draws but if things go our way, I’m sure they’ll go well again.”

The biggest question mark hangs over newcomer Spiritual Bliss who has strung together four straight wins since coming north, showing plenty of heart in some hard-fought on-pace contests at Manawatu, Cambridge and Auckland, when she led all the way to beat the talented and recently sold Debbie Lincoln.

Just how she will respond to racing in tight quarters, when she’s over-raced up front each time, is the sixty four dollar question and one which driver Harrison Orange will quickly find out.

“I think the race will be won or lost soon after the start,” Green said. “It’s out of our control, we just have to hope she gets a run through and then I’m sure she’ll be hard to beat.”

Green is amazed Prince Lincoln hasn’t won a race yet, given his “tremendous speed and great manners, but surmises he might still be on the way up.

Green had expected the Always B Miki three-year-old to win at Auckland last week when he fitted sliding blinds to give him some late oomph.

But Prince Lincoln raced exactly as he had done in his previous starts, sprinting up from last, looking the winner 100 metres out, only to battle the last bit.

“He should have won but we’ve taken the blinds off on Friday night and, in a weaker line-up, going left-handed, we’ll see how he goes.”

Lincoln Maree … unlucky. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Stablemate Lincoln Maree will need some luck from her draw but Green believes she, too, can get some of the money.

“Her driver (Orange) said she would have won last start had that horse (Mr Miki) not stopped in her face. The winner was gone by the time she saw daylight.”

Beaten seven and a half lengths by Mary Magdalene, Lincoln Maree nevertheless fired up late in the run home.

Lincoln Lover, nabbed in the shadows by outsider Carolan Questro last week, is on the receiving end of a barrier turnaround this week.

“Being put in the race from the start last time took a bit of the sting out of him. But at least there’s no chance that will happen this time from the second row.

“In his previous races he’d ducked for cover and got sucked along but he needs a decent tempo, he’s no sit-sprinter.”

Of the two who have drawn the front row, Johnny Lincoln ($7) is most favoured.

“He seems to go better left-handed and placed at Cambridge in his only start there.”

Lincoln Downs ($21) gets a good draw in the eighth race and Green is hoping she can repeat her placing at Cambridge two starts back from a similar alley.

“She’s got a little bit of lick but only has a short sprint, so timing is everything.”