Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Promising four-year-old Lincoln Lou has enjoyed a beneficial spell after finishing a distant last in the WA Derby last October and he has bright prospects of scoring a first-up victory when he begins from barrier six in the $21,000 Westside Auto for Your Tyres Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The New Zealand-bred gelding, who will be driven by Emily Suvaljko for trainer Michael Young, has won only four times from 29 starts but has excellent potential.
He warmed up for his return to racing in good style with an easy win in slow time in a five-horse trial over 2150m at Byford last Saturday. He took an early lead and ambled through the opening three 400m sections in 32sec., 30.9sec. and 31.3sec. before sprinting over the final quarter in 27.4sec. to beat The Wand Waver by three lengths, rating a slow 2.2.3.
“Lincoln Lou worked with Penny Black today (Tuesday) at Jandakot and Michael said he felt really good,” said Suvaljko. “He has very good high speed and should be right in the finish on Friday night.”
Lincoln Lou’s main rival is likely to be Cee Dee Three, who is ready to show his best form at his third appearance after a spell. He trailed the pacemaker Sugar Shake and was inconvenienced when the offside tyre of his sulky was punctured approaching the home turn and he finished fifth behind Reset The Bar last Friday night.
Trainer-reinsman Gary Hall Jnr will be looking for a repeat victory when Reset The Bar begins from the outside of the back line in the 2130m Westside Auto We Buy Cars Pace.
Reset The Bar challenged unsuccessful for the early lead in last Friday night’s race before Hall opted to get to the inside and the horse was sixth under lock and key at the bell before getting clear with 250m to travel and flashing home, out three wide, to get up and win by a half-head from Sugar Shake after final quarters of 28.5sec. and 28.9sec.
“He did a good job and should be improved by that run,” said Hall. “He has to cover the whole field at some stage but should prove hard to beat.”