That’s more like it Raider - we can’t wait to see you back at Trentham now

Talented galloper Lincoln Raider showed he was approaching his best again when he scored an eye-catching win at today’s Otaki trials.

Slow away for rider Robbie Hannam in an open 1000 metre heat, Lincoln Raider was still last at the 400 but railed hard and, angled out inside the 200, easily drew in Cover Drive and Morse Code to win by half a length.

Hannam had him under a good hold at the line and was impressed by how easily he won the heat.

Robbie Hannam … impressed with how easily Lincoln Raider won.Lincoln Raider clocked 1:00.75 for the 1000 metres, significantly faster than the 1:01.97 Overtheriver took in winning the following heat.

“He’s definitely on the way up,’’ said Hannam of Lincoln Raider who is on the way back after having knee chip surgery in February.

Trainer Lisa Latta said she was very happy with the trial which was a dramatic improvement on his last outing at Foxton on September 17 when the chopped-up footing tripped him.

Today’s track rating was a slow 7 and Lincoln Raider had no trouble with it, Latta indicating she would now take him to Trentham on October 26 for a rating 82 1200.

It was at Trentham last prep that Lincoln Raider really looked a force in the making when he scored big come-from-behind wins at 1400 metres and 1600 metres.

Lincoln Green looked in for a good innings when he ran third in his open 1200 metre heat.

Hannam took Lincoln Green straight to the front and he fought on solidly in the run home to run third, only one and three-quarter lengths from the winner who clocked 1:13.56.

“He was beaten by two handy types (Not Santa and Beyond The Fort) and I don’t think he was 100% happy in that ground,” Latta said.

“I will take him back to the jumpouts at Levin on October 16 before we pick out a race for him.”

Strapper Josh Herd leads Kamanda Lincoln and Charlotte O’Beirne before today’s trial.Latta gave handy stayer Kamanda Lincoln a quiet hitout in another 1200 metre heat when he raced keenly early for rider Charlotte O’Beirne.

“That’s a good sign he’s well and feeling good,” said O’Beirne. “And he hit the line well all under his own steam.”

Kamanda Lincoln finished last of the five runners, winner Myrtle clocking 1:14.15.

“I asked Charlotte to give him a very quiet trial as his coat is still not quite there yet,” said Latta. “I was very happy with the way he went and he will head back to the Levin jumpouts in a fortnight. That should clean him up nicely to head back to the races.”

Benny Lincoln was never a factor in his 1000 metre catchweight heat, rider Johnathan Parkes saying he wasn’t suited to the wet track.

“I’d give him another go on top of the ground,” Parkes said of the Jimmy Choux three-year-old.

The heat was won by the Johno Benner and Holly Wynyard-trained Springsteen in 1:03.85.