The last-start winner of the Auckland Cup is back on the track where he began his winning sequence in the Summer Cup free-for-all on February 4.
A win would be compensation for trainer Ray Green and owners, Lincoln Farms. They were forced to scratch You Rock from the New Zealand Trotting Derby. He was treated for soreness with a drug that had a withholding time of four days, not two as the veterinarian who treated him had thought.
Sir Lincoln, the $3.20 favourite, will head to Sydney after the race. He has a lead-up race at Menangle for the Len Smith Mile on April 27.
Franco Emirate is the $3.60 second favourite. He was found to have mucous in a nostril after dropping out to last in the Auckland Cup. He won a workout at Motukarara last Saturday after starting from 40m. Franco Emirate won the junior free-for-all at Addington on New Zealand Cup day when Sir Lincoln finished sixth.
The stable of Mark Purdon and Grant Payne have the material for a Derby double tonight. The stable has Escapee a hot favourite for the NZ Trotting Derby. She has won her last five starts, including the Trotting Oaks at Addington by six and a-quarter lengths last Friday.
Purdon and Payne have Smolda, Fly Like An Eagle and Best Deal Yet in the NZ Derby, a race Purdon has won eight times.
Smolda won the Flying Stakes (1950m) last week after tracking Fly Like An Eagle in the lead and taking the passing lane. Fly Like An Eagle had set a leisurely pace and the last 800m was run in a swift 54.6.
Scandalman could prove the worth of his win in the Victoria Derby.
Scandalman won the Victoria Derby in a 1.57.4 mile rate for the 2240m (mobile) at Melton on February 4. The New South Wales-trained Scandalman has since raced twice at Alexandra Park when he staged a strong late run for second to Ideal Scott in the Northern Derby.
Holmes D G, Courage Under Fire and Stars And Stripes won the Victoria-NZ Derby double in successive years from 1998.
Courage Under Fire is the sire of Smolda.
