A comfortable victory at the Waverley trials earlier this month has confirmed a start in Saturday's Group III Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders' Stakes (1200m) for promising three-year-old Lincoln Falls.
The Lisa Latta-trained galloper had a short
break after finishing unplaced in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at
Ellerslie last month with Latta confirming he had also been gelded during his
time away from the track.
The Dundeel gelding pleased Latta with his trial performance where he sat comfortably outside the speed throughout over 1000m in open company before doing just enough to head off stablemate Almo Street at the finish.
"He trialled up nicely at Waverley and has done well since then," Latta said.
"We tipped him out for a few days after the Derby and had him gelded while he was out. He could be a little wayward in his races and I think the gelding will help with that.
"He will go up to Te Rapa for the Breeders' Stakes for his first run back."
Latta will also head north with consistent mare China Star who will tackle the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m), a race that saw her finish runner-up to Our Abbadean last year.
Latta also reported that a number of her stable stars were enjoying time off before commencing preparations for spring racing, however she has lost the services of consistent open class performer, Five To Midnight.
"Sentimental Miss, Secret Allure and Sir Nate are all in the paddock now and won't come back in for another month or so," she said.
"They all did a really good job this season and I think there is more in store for them in their next campaigns.
"Five To Midnight won't be there as he has left my stable and will do his future racing with Patrick Payne in Melbourne."
Raced by Kamada Racing principal, Kevin Pratt, Five To Midnight finished runner-up in the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) in his last run for Latta, a position he had filled in the 2018 edition of the event.
The six-year-old won 9 races from 43 starts in New Zealand including the Gr.3 Waikato Gold Cup (2400m), the Listed Hawke's Bay Gold Cup (2200m) and Listed Feilding Gold Cup (2100m). – NZ Racing Desk
