Lincoln Lover sprints up the passing lane to beat Katies Princess at Cambridge. PHOTO: Katie Steffert/Race Images.
Ultimate gear change does the trick for brave little tradesman Lincoln Lover
By Barry Lichter • 5 February 2026
Co-trainer Ray Green reckons he has a pretty good idea why Lincoln Lover’s form has improved in his last few starts.
At Cambridge on Wednesday night the little Bettor’s Delight gelding notched his second win this year, to go with two seconds, when he held off strong late challenges in the run home.
“Since we gelded him, he’s turned the corner,” Green said. “He was getting a bit rank as a colt.”
Now that he’s found winning form, Green expects Lincoln Lover to keep his foot on the till.
Co-trainer Nate Delany in the winner’s enclosure with Lincoln Lover and driver Peter Ferguson. PHOTO: Katie Steffert/Race Images.“He’s a nice horse who is getting stronger all the time. He’s not a big horse but he’s a trier and he’s good-gaited and does nothing wrong.”
Green liked the courage that Lincoln Lover showed in overhauling the pacemaking Katie’s Princess then staving off late bursts from Ragnar Lothbrok and Waltzing With Miki to score by a neck.
“It was a nice tradesman-like win, and he was brave enough, but it doesn’t mean we’ll be heading off to Auckland. The opposition might be a bit rich for him there.”
Instead, Green says Lincoln Lover might be seen at Lincoln Farms’ happy hunting ground Palmerston North with a number of double-headers coming up.
Still rated R45, Lincoln Lover has now earned $29,852 from 17 starts for owners John and Lynne Street, Paul Wyatt, Jason Deane and Brent Mulholland.
More news in Harness
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No Jumals to beat this time at the Park so Ray’s looking for Lincoln Wave to roll in
Lincoln Linda best of the night at Cambridge - she has the engine to cross Soul Artist
Cheapie Johnny Lincoln a “proper” racehorse who can foot it with the Million bluebloods
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Rivergirl Bella
5.44pm
“She did well here last time as she had to do a bit to get to the lead and she dug in and fought on. She’s certainly a chance if she repeats that effort.”
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
7.09pm
“I thought she went super last time after doing a lot of work. She can do that because she has an engine and is tough. She’s a bit one-dimensional - you have to turn her loose early - but from the two draw she should be able to lead and that’s where she does her best work.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.34pm
“I think he’s a bit stronger after his spell. It’s not a great field - most will die on that mark - and I don’t see a problem with the standing start as he’s nicely gaited. He could be marginally unfit after three months out but he’s done quite a bit of work and I can see him going a half-decent race.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.59pm
“She had every chance last time but I can’t see why she won’t go well again. She’s as honest as they come and tries like hell.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
8.29pm
“You’d think he’d lead easily from the inside. He’s had bad draws and still got the money, so I’m sure he’ll go another good race. I’m surprised they sold him so cheaply. He’s better than people think.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Lincoln Wave
5.09pm
“With the trip he got in the Harness Million I thought he’d have run on a lot better. But he was still a bit short on fitness and sometimes we can expect too much of these horses, he was racing the best, after all. It’s a big drop in grade here and he’s a pretty fair horse.”
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
5.09pm
“He’s an honest sort who’s in a good space but he won’t get a wonderful trip from the outside of the gate this time so I’m not holding my breath.”
Race 3: Sammy Lincoln
6.04pm
“He’s training down well but you never know what he’s going to do. You think you’ve got him sorted and he does something silly. But we know if the real Sammy turned up, he’d be very hard to beat as he’s got a lot of speed.”
Race 5: Prince Lincoln
7.05pm
“He’s another where you don’t know which one will turn up but we’ve gelded him since his last run, so we’ll see if that helps. He trained well the other day.”
