Watch how unlucky Platinum Spirit managed to get pocketed for the entire Trentham stretch

Not too many horses have been held up for the entire 450 metre home straight at Trentham but that’s exactly what conspired to blight Platinum Spirit’s form line last start.

Finishing 10th of 12 in a rating 65 race is hardly the best recommendation for Saturday’s rating 82 Summer Cup but you only have to watch a replay of the race to see why rider Jonathan Riddell told trainer Lisa Latta to simply put a line through the race.

Last early then three wide from the 800 metre mark, Riddell took Platinum Spirit wide turning for home but still had Opie Bosson on Saltbush Bill outside him and, no matter how hard he tried, could not work clear.

Platinum Spirit … Trentham winner chasing prizemoney for the derby.“Jonathan probably should have come out one wider but he’s a horse who does get himself into trouble and he hadn’t ridden him before,” Latta said.

Platinum Spirit went to the line without being fully tested, 8.8 lengths from winner Valmur, doing nothing to help his chase to win more dollars to push him up the entry order for the $1 million New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on February 29.

Sitting on 39th, with only five weeks to go, Platinum Spirit really needs to finish in the money on Saturday but Latta admits she was hoping for a smaller field.

“Sometimes running in a small field in a higher grade is easier than being in a full field of rating 65 horses.”

With nine rivals, half of them in useful form, the Charm Spirit colt will need to be right on his game. But if he can turn on the big finishes which carried him into the minor money at Awapuni in his previous two runs, one over 2300 metres, he’s a chance at the longer 2400 metre trip.

Bookies have opened Platinum Spirit the fifth favourite at $8.50 behind St Leger winner Daytona Red ($2.70).

Lincoln Hanover … on-pace runner suited to 1000 metres.Freshened and fast

Lincoln Hanover gets the chance to shed his bridesmaid tag in the opening race, Latta having freshened him right up since his uncharacteristic failure at Awapuni on Boxing Day.

Sent out second favourite after placing in seven of his previous nine starts, Lincoln Hanover didn’t see out the 1400 metres and packed it in halfway down the straight.

“But he was a bit off that day, he was really quiet and not himself,” Latta said.

“His mother, Princess Lincoln, was very fast and being an on-pace runner you’d think the 1000 metres would suit him.

“He galloped very nicely at Awapuni on Wednesday morning and the one draw in a small field suits.”

Lincoln Green … goes best when fresh.Latta expects Lincoln Green to relish the roomy Trentham track in the sixth race, and the step-up to 1600 metres.

A fresh-up winner at Awapuni in November, Lincoln Green beat only two home next time over 1600 metres at Otaki before running a slightly better race over 1400 metres on Boxing Day.

“Both of his wins have been fresh-up so I’ve given him plenty of time between runs.

“This is a very even field but if he can bring his best form he is capable of figuring in the finish.

“I’ll give him this mile then step him up again. Robbie (Hannam) is adamant he’ll be better over longer trips.”