Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes

Spiritual Bliss isn’t done winning yet.

That’s the confident tip from co-trainer Nathan Delany after the newcomer to Lincoln Farms scored her second win in as many starts from the stable at Manawatu on Thursday night.

Backing up from her impressive win on Tuesday, when the five-year-old scored easily despite pulling very hard in the running, Spiritual Bliss was even more impressive, striding clear despite attacking the leader incessantly over the first 700 metres.

With driver Harrison Orange following Delany’s instructions to have a good crack for the top, and Andre Poutama intent on not giving way on Melton Mogul, the pair waged a brutal war until Orange sat up 1300 metres from home.

Even then, Orange reported the mare started pulling again, though not as badly as on day one, but still was able to defy her rivals by two and a half lengths in a fiery 1:57.2 mile rate for the 2000 metres.

Spiritual Bliss notches a Manawatu double in fine style. PHOTO: Jack McKenzie/Race Images.“They were really running,” Delany said. “But Harry said she still had plenty more in the tank. You’d think on that she’ll go through a few more grades pretty quickly.”

Given Spiritual Bliss had a record of just two wins from 39 starts before coming north, that might sound overly optimisic but Delany expects the boss Ray Green to try their luck next in better company at Auckland. That will come as exciting news for St Petersburg-based owner Dave Phillips who now races Spiritual Bliss after her lease expired.

“We’re a bit surprised by how well she’s gone - she’d been training just OK in the week or so we’d had her” - but even with a 10-point rise in the ratings you wouldn’t think that’s all she’s got.

“The racing’s not easy at Manawatu. It’s harder than at Cambridge. At least there you get a bit of a break - they can ease up for a few hundred metres - but at Manawatu they keep running.”

Delany said he wasn’t expecting too much when he tripped south to Palmerson North with Spiritual Bliss and the stable’s two-year-old fillies Lincoln Maree and Lincoln Downs.

Upset win

But today he was on his way home with three wins from six starts, Lincoln Maree contributing to the two-night tally of $20,822 with an upset win in the last race.

The Sweet Lou filly was shunned by most punters after an inglorious display on the first night, taking virtually no part after galloping twice.

Win number four on the night for Andre Poutama behind Lincoln Maree. PHOTO: Jack McKenzie/Race Images.But, as Delany revealed pre-race, Lincoln Maree had been jumping shadows and the switch from the first to the last race at night removed that hurdle.

Given a copybook drive by Poutama, who notched his fourth winner on the night, Lincoln Maree accelerated out of the one-one trail to hit the lead before the home turn and reel in leaders Lilith and Rattle My Cage to score by three-quarters of a length.

“It was a great drive by Andre. He said he lost her for a stride or two on the first turn but she quite quickly came back down into it.”

Lincoln Maree, having just her sixth start, was a paltry $3500 buy for Lincoln Farms at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2023 weanling sale.

But she always had a target on her head, her dam Moonlighting being a sister to Lincoln Farms’ most successful pacer Sir Lincoln, the winner of 21 races, and Lincoln’s Megastar (6 wins) whom it also bred.

“I love these Palmy trips,” Delany said. “We’re building up a pretty good record down here.”

Lincoln Farms racked up eight winners in two months on the CD circuit earlier in the year and now has hit $100,000 in earnings there with their lesser lights.