Star opening to Cup Day

Auckland Cup Day was away to a fast start for Waikato Stud with homebred Lincoln Star claiming the opening event at Pukekohe on Saturday afternoon.

The seasoned stayer made his trip north from Lisa Latta’s Awapuni stable worthwhile with a dogged victory over 2100 metres.

The son of Savabeel was at odds of better than 30-1, but his trainer wasn’t surprised with the gelding’s performance on top of the ground in the hands of apprentice Tayla Mitchell.

“I think Tayla’s claim helped as he’s not a big horse and he’s struck a few wet tracks and has got down to a nice place in the weights,” she said.

“Hopefully, with another claim he can stay in this grade (Rating 75) and he’ll stay all day.”

He settled midfield off the fence before angling widest on the turn and produced a sustained finish to win for the sixth time in his career.

Lincoln Star was a $180,000 Karaka buy for Lincoln Farms and is a son of the late dual Group 3 winner Dating, whose four foals to race have all been successful.

She is a sister to the Group-performed Miracle Miss, dam of the Listed Wellesley S. winner Maritimo.

By O’Reilly, Dating’s last foal is an unraced two-year-old filly by Ocean Park.