Watch Sammy Lincoln charge home and you’ll want to be on at Cambridge on Thursday night

“I can’t imagine him being beaten - they’d have to knock him over.”

Lincoln Farms’ co-trainer Ray Green doesn’t mince words when describing how the 10th event at Cambridge on Thursday night is Sammy Lincoln’s race to lose.

Sammy Lincoln ($1.85) gets a perfect two draw in his first start away from Auckland and Green and training partner Nathan Delany have reached for the hopple shorteners to make sure there’s no repeat of last week’s early bobble which cost him crucial field position.

Sammy Lincoln … still learning.“He’s very fast and in case he has to move quickly early on Thursday we’ll use the shorteners.

“He’s still learning and he’s a nervous bugger who gets a bit stressed sometimes but he’s settling better and better.”

Sammy Lincoln has had to settle for three placings in his four starts so far but the way he charged to the line last week at Alexandra Park, running the fastest sectionals of 57.7 and 27.1, put everyone on notice.

“I can’t see any problem with him going left-handed - he’s probably better that way - and he’s definitely coming to it.

“It would be nice to see him put it all together before he takes on the good ones in the following week’s Sires’ Stakes Semi.”

Another who is near his best form again is Leo Lincoln ($13, $3.40) who takes on a useful line-up in the Bay Of Plenty Country Cup.

And, while there are numerous much higher rated chances on 10 metres and 25 metres, Leo Lincoln has the advantge of starting from the inside of a small front row over the sprint trip of 2200 metres.

“He won’t be disgraced,” says Green. “He steps well and his driver reckoned he would have won last week if he’d got the run at the right time.”

Rank outsider in the nine-horse field at Auckland, Leo Lincoln barrelled home once clear to finish only 3.5 lengths from stablemate Lincoln Wave.

The merit of his run was reflected on the clock with his last 800 metres in 56.3 and last mile in a ripping 1:54.8, second fastest in the race.

“There are a few in there that are better than him but he has a handicap advantage and, if he gets a good trip, he could get some of it.”

Gutsy mare Spiritual Bliss beats Debbie Lincoln on New Year’s Eve. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.Spiritual Bliss ($11, $2.35) is another who Green tips can get some money in the mares’ feature, the Waikato Breeders’ Stakes.

While Green concedes hot pot Francent ($1.85), who is 23 points higher in the ratings, and Princess Gracy ($3.80) are the ones to beat, he says the way Spritual Bliss performed at her last start, when just nabbed late by Princess Gracy, gives her a chance.

“She’s a good, tough mare. It depends on the trip you get in these sort of races but she loves it when they run hard.”

Princess Gracy’s 2:39.1 clocking didn’t worry Spiritual Bliss in the Northern Mares’ Classic and Green says a similar tempo on Thursday should also suit the stable’s latest newcomer Ultimate Cullect ($17, $3).

Sent north from Southland by Melbourne owners Merv and Meg Butterworth for mares’ features before hopping the Tasman, Green says he hasn’t had a lot of time to assess her yet.

“From the one drive I’ve had on her she doesn’t strike me as a sit-sprinter.

“But if they go hard, hopefully she’ll get home well.”

Ulimate Cullect looked an improver in her first start at Auckland when she came from the tail end on the home turn for second to the talented Sonofamistery, running the fastest sectionals of 56.9 and 28.5.

A week later, before joining Lincoln Farms, she was very disappointing when unable to make ground from the rear in the Mares’ Classic, finishing 30 lengths last behind Princess Gracy.

The Night Fox ($9, $2.70) looks best of the remaining three runners for Lincoln Farms but faces a stronger line-up than usual in the opening race.

The sixth favourite behind Lulana ($3.90), The Night Fox moves in to three with a scratching, which could see him take the early lead.

Champion reinsman Blair Orange takes over the reins from his son Harrison who drives the Purdon/Phelan-trained last-start winner Twist And Tango ($8.50).

The Night Fox did well at his last start at Cambridge last week to all but stave off the late charge of red hot favourite Nazare.

Lincoln Maree ($26, $4.60) cops what Green calls a “brutal” task in the fifth, where she is equal rank outsider behind outstanding three-year-old Freeze Frame.

“But she’s drawn to get a suck along and hopefully she can last well enough for a cheque.”

Rivergirl Bella ($31, $4.40), too, meets much better rivals in the last race but Green says she is honest and will try hard.