Extra distance key to mare’s revival

Lisa Latta breathed a major sigh of relief after the Group performer Platinum Command returned to top form at Riccarton.

The Awapuni trainer’s decision to send the mare south for Saturday’s Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup Trial (1800m) proved to be a masterstroke with the daughter of Red Giant winning for the first time in 14 months.

“She’s been a touch disappointing, although she had been racing on really heavy tracks over a mile and she needed a bit further,” Latta said.

“Masa (Tanaka) rode her in the Metric Mile here and she didn’t go a bad race, but he said she just ground to the line.”

From the family of the multiple Group One winner Vengeance Of Rain, Platinum Command is raced by long-time stable clients Lincoln Farms and Neville McAlister.

“She’s bred to go over ground and we’ll press on to the 2000m race in a fortnight’s time,” said Latta, referring to the North Canterbury Cup at Riccarton.

Meanwhile, the stable is likely to have two runners in the Gr.2 Sacred Falls Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) on October 7.

The Lincoln Farms-raced pair of Jimmy Lincoln, who finished runner-up when resuming at Hastings on Saturday, and Lincoln Hills, who ran sixth, are on target for the three-year-old feature.

“They both went well and Jimmy Lincoln will definitely run in the Guineas and the other horse, who doesn’t like wet tracks, will probably be there as well,” Latta said.

Jimmy Lincoln was successful in his only two-year-old appearance last season while Lincoln Hills also won on debut and was put aside after finishing fourth at Hastings behind the unbeaten Bostonian.