Racing: Royal chance in Derby heat

The only thing different about Sir Lincoln when he takes on Australia's best 3-year-old pacers in the Victoria Derby heats tonight will be his name.

Because apart from the change - he will be known as Lincoln Royal in Australia - the exciting pacer is exactly the same as when he won the Waikato Guineas in national record time three weeks ago.

Same fitness, same condition, same confidence levels from his trainer.

"He is pretty much exactly where he was three weeks ago when he won the Guineas," said trainer Ray Green from Victoria yesterday.

"He had a few days fretting when he first got here but has settled in well now and is working great.

"So the only thing different will be his name."

Sir Lincoln had to be changed to Lincoln Royal because an Australian-trained horse already had his name and the new moniker is a nice change from the typical addition of My, Mr or Our at the start of New Zealand horses' names when they cross the Tasman.

"I quite like it," said Green.

And Australian punters are certain to like Lincoln Royal tonight when he contests the third and weakest heat of the series at the Melton track outside Melbourne.

While he has drawn wide on the front line draw in the 11.42pm (NZ time) heat, he will need only to race up to his best New Zealand form to win.

Sir Lincoln has been one of the elite of a deep crop of 3-year-olds, having overcome a poor draw to win the Sires' Stakes Final at Addington in November.

He then went through a flat patch last month, which Green attributes to him over-working the stylish colt.

Green eased that workload before the Guineas at Cambridge on January 8 and Sir Lincoln was able to work forward from a similar draw to that he faces tonight and post the national record.

While he only needs to finish fourth tonight to qualify for next Saturday's Derby final, Green's instructions to driver Maurice McKendry will be simple.

"We are here to win because if we can't win the weakest heat then we won't be winning the Derby," he said.

"And he has the draw to keep going forward so we will have no excuses."

The other Kiwi in tonight's heats, Courage To Rule, faces a far tougher assignment in the opening heat at 10.42pm.

He has a second line draw in a heat expected to be dominated from barrier one by Australasian Breeders Crown runner-up Lanercost.

That heat also contains Renaissance Man, who like Lanercost, is nominated for the $500,000 Woodlands Derby at Alexandra Park on March 12.

While Courage To Rule is tough he will need all the skill of NSW driver Greg Bennett to qualify for the final.

Tonight's meeting starts a huge weekend for New Zealand pacers in Victoria, with Mr Feelgood and Our Awesome Armbro both each-way chances in the A$125,000 Ballarat Cup tomorrow night.

Both will have to come from off the pace in the 2710m event but the field is far weaker than most recent versions of this race and Mr Feelgood, in particular, looks a good chance.

That meeting also hosts the two heats of the Interdominion Trotting Championship which will have no New Zealand representation for the first time in decades.

The Chris Lang pair of Skyvalley and Sundon's Gift will dominate betting on their heats even after both drew the outside of the front line.