Stable ‘oldie’ Leo Lincoln roars home for ninth win, thanks to peach of a drive by Zac

At just five years old, Leo Lincoln is the elder statesman at Lincoln Farms and co-trainer Ray Green struggles to understand why he’s still there.

“I can’t believe no one wanted to buy him,” Green said after Leo Lincoln notched his ninth win in a slick 2:40.62 at Cambridge on Thursday night.

“I thought he would have been a good buy for someone and we had him processed him to sell but it fell through.”

Leo Lincoln is the only five-year-old at John and Lynne Street’s Pukekohe stable and Sugar Ray Lincoln the only four-year-old, the stable preferring to concentrate on age group stock.

“We’re not trying to get rid of him. He’s a great little tradesman and we’re happy to keep him.

“He’s an easy horse to do, a lovely horse, a real gentleman, and, while no champion, he’s very honest.”

Green, who has a share in the horse himself, along with the Streets, their business manager Ian Middleton, Glenn and Ann Cotterill and Phil Kelly, says Leo Lincoln has the uncanny knack of always being able to secure a good trip.

“Now he’s a rating 52 he might get more bad draws but we’ll take whatever he gives us.”

Financially, Leo returned only $4400 last night but it took his bankroll to a healthy $146,014 from 71 starts.

“He’s got money in some better races, a Metro Final at Auckland and those two good races at Manawatu, so he’s been a good horse to us.”

With at least two wins in every season he has raced - at two, three, four and five - the Art Major - Alta Valencia gelding has also racked up 19 placings, testimony to his genuine nature.

Green praised the drive of Zachary Butcher last night, extricating Leo Lincoln from three deep on the markers turning for home and urging him home to beat the trailing Melody Banner by half a neck in a 1:57.4 mile rate for the 2200 metres.

“It was a good drive by Zac. But that’s what we expect from those good drivers. He took advantage of a good trip and got out at the right time.”