What you need to know about plunge horse Lincoln Cove: Do you follow your money?
By Barry Lichter • 19 March 2024
A trial at Pukekohe last Saturday explains why trainer Ray Green says his opinion is still “guarded” over plunge horse Lincoln Cove.
The Downbytheseaside debutant was surprisingly backed off the map on debut at Cambridge 12 days ago, his $21 opening price cut to $13 by scratchings, then hammered in to see him start a $2.20 favourite.
Things didn’t look good in the first lap when Lincoln Cove was forced to work three wide to the death, before landing a one-one sit.
But just when it seemed the horse would still deliver, driver Zachary Butcher easing out on the home turn, Lincoln Cove took fright when his deafeners were pulled, stumbled and galloped briefly.
And, worse, 50 metres later, just when he was again looking the likely winner, he copped a violent shunt, Butcher thrown forward in the cart, when a rival veered out sharply looking for a run, his driver later supended for three days.
Incredibly, Lincoln Cove still kept coming, attacking the line hard for second, beaten one and three-quarter lengths by Shez The One.
Bookies, who dodged a bullet, will be wary about letting anyone on at long odds this week but Green isn’t convinced the horse warrants such respect.
His caution was proven correct at the weekend trials when Lincoln Cove improved from the back to challenge leader Lincoln La Moose only to go into a wild gallop, taking so long to settle he was 14 lengths astern of his stablemate at the finish, albeit making up plenty of lost ground.
“He ranged up looking dangerous in the trial and for some inexplicable reason had a gallop,” Green said.
“I’d like to see him get round safely before I form an opinion of him as he certainly has a few tricks.
“Zac reckoned he would have gone straight on by at Cambridge had he not galloped but he didn’t look to lose much ground to me. And even though he got shunted a bit after that, again he didn’t lose too much momentum.
Lincoln La Moose … has taken time to strengthen. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.“While he would have the wood on Moose on ability, he could take a few runs to come right.”
Lincoln La Moose, who debuts after six workouts and five trials, three of them this prep, has taken time to strengthen, Green said.
“He’s a delicately built guy who took a little time to cope with the work.
“I think the ability is there and he looks to have strengthened a bit so he should go reasonably well from four on the gate.”
An Art Major colt out of Cullens Princess, Lincoln La Moose is a half-brother to six-race winner Miki Montana.
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Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
