Savabeel colt set for group one double

Two Group One assignments await the WS graduate Lincoln Blue in the New Year. The well-related son of Savabeel has returned from a break following successive victories in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes at Otaki and in the Listed 3YO Salver at Ellerslie.

“He’s had 10 days off and we’ll be getting him ready for the Levin Classic,” Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta said. “He doesn’t need to do too much racing – that’s why we took the softer option with him last time out to give him a run around Ellerslie. We’ll probably look at the Waikato Guineas before the Derby.”

Lincoln Blue was bought out of the Matamata farm’s Premier Sale draft last year by Latta’s long-time stable client John Street for $220,000. “He’s a lovely horse and he’s always showed us a lot of ability,” Latta said. The colt, whose brother (Lot 349) will be offered by WS at Karaka next year, is a brother to the Gr.1 Queensland Derby winner Brambles.

Latta remains hopeful of another Derby runner with the promising maiden Kamanda Lincoln, also by Savabeel, on the short list. “He’s nominated and he really is a lovely horse,” she said.

In the mould of a potential stayer, Kamanda Lincoln closed well to finish runner-up at his first two starts before he was a beaten favourite at Otaki where he was upset by a soft track. The colt showed his true worth on a good track at Otaki on Boxing Day to post his maiden success.