What’s Up with the trotter? - Ray ‘guilty’ of being very optimistic for debut on Friday night

It’s been nearly nine years since Lincoln Farms took a trotter to the races but debutant Whats Up The Hill is shaping up as a worthy successor to its previous squaregaiting stars.

“I’m guilty of being very optimistic with him,” says co-trainer Ray Green. “He’s a lovely animal with the pedigree to back him up.”

The three-year-old, who is by What The Hill out of former age group star Escapee, served notice that he would be hard to beat in the third race at Auckland on Friday night by easily winning a Pukekohe trial a week ago, running five lengths clear of his rivals.

“He keeps improving every time we put him out there and even though it will all be quite new to him - it’s his first time off the place at a new venue with a bit more urgency - he’s a pretty laid back individual.

“So long as he gets round OK and it’s a good experience for him that’s the main priority. But he’s done nothing wrong so far and should be right in it.”

Trevor Casey and Kate Marriott, partners wth Lincoln Farms in Whats Up The Hill. PHOTO: AJ Berry/Race ImagesWhats Up The Hill will carry the Lone Star colours of his breeder Trevor Casey, who will race the gelding with his partner Kate Marriott and Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street.

Casey won 11 races with Escapee who in 2012 scored a clean sweep of the three-year-old features, winning the NZ Trotting Oaks, Northern Trotting Derby and NZ Derby.

“She was the best of her age and has done quite well at stud,” Green said.

Clearly the best of Escapee’s progeny was the ill-fated Isolate who was looking extra special for trainer Phil Williamson before he got sick and died in November, 2023.

“We haven’t had a trotter in the stable since Reine Des Gitans and we made money out of her,” Green said.

Third in Monbet’s Four-Year-Old Harness Ruby at Cambridge in 2016, Reine Des Gitans won three races before being sold to Australia.

Before that, Lincoln Farms raced the exceptionally talented You Rock who had won six of his only 12 starts before having to be euthenased in 2012 with osteo arthririts.

“The cartilage in his joints just evaporated. He would have been a serious horse.”

Green is adamant You Rock would have won the 2011 Breeders Crown Two-year-old Final at Melton had he not jumped a shadow at the start.

But it’s been 17 years since Lincoln Farms’ best trotter Galleons Sunset strutted his stuff, Derek Balle training the free-goer to win 14 races and $343,049, the Bill Collins Mile and Interdominion Grand Final at Moonee Valley in 2008 his crowing glory.

“There’s nothing like a nice trotter which this fella could very well be,” Green said.

TAB bookies are keeping Whats Up The Hill very safe, opening him a $3.80 co-favourite with Kissmeiloveyou.

Angelic Copy, outer, pips Allamericanplayer on debut. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.Stranglehold

Lincoln Farms looks to have a stranglehold on the last race on Friday night with Lincoln Linda and Angelic Copy.

Angelic Copy was super in her winning debut over the boys on February 7 and looked right up to the mark when powering home for a close third in a Pukekohe workout on February 20.

“She’s a very nice, tractable filly who keeps getting better. She does nothing wrong and I expect her to go another good race.

“But there’s nothing between her and Lincoln Linda who looks better placed from her inside draw.

“Maurice was pretty happy with her last run and, if nothing goes wrong in the running, she could be the one to beat.”

Lincoln Linda, who was jumping shadows on debut, recorded the fastest closing sectional of 57.9 last start, when third to Prince Lincoln.

The stable’s third rep in the filly’s race, Rivergirl Bella, finished five and a half lengths behind Lincoln Linda last start.

“She’s kind of speedy but is still finding her way.”

Prince Lincoln, outer, and Lincoln Lover are in perfect pacing unison near the finish. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.New rival

Prince Lincoln and Lincoln Lover, who quinellaed the last baby race, come up against a new rival in the boy’s edition on Friday night.

And the bookies are expecting Tony Herlihy’s Rahm to be too good, opening him a hot $1.60 favourite over Green’s colts who are both at $6.50.

A $50,000 yearling buy, Rahm is by stallion of the year Captaintreacherous out of the brilliant filly Spanish Armada, who won 14 of her 19 races and $787,000.

Rahm went down in plenty of punters’ notebooks after his winning trial at Alexandra Park on February 21, ripping home in 56.4.

“He did trial at Auckland, and has to be a danger, but my two colts have a little edge in experience on him.

“Prince Lincoln is pretty tractable so I don’t think the wide draw will make much difference. It’s only a small field so he won’t be far off them in the running.

“And Lincoln Lover tries hard. He’s a typical Bettor’s Delight who saves his best for the big dance. I’d like to think he’s going to keep getting better.”

Green’s remainng runner on the night, Frisco Bay, is the $26 outsider in the fifth race, up against much better performed rivals.

“Duchess Megxit is a serious horse who’s already won more than $500,000 and you’d look silly tipping against her. Frisky is up in grade and will need to get the right trip and a bit of luck to get any of it.”