Trainer Bruce Marsh was right to give Lucky Lincoln a freshen-up after a disappointing last start, and the much improved gelding came back to claim his first win in the $75,000 Initiation Division 1 race over 1200m on Friday night.

Lucky Lincoln proved to be pretty “unlucky” at his runs. The four-year-old had two thirds, even though he raced wide and was checked.

His last start in an Initiation race on the turf in August saw him running out of the placings to finish sixth, three lengths behind Lim’s Elusive. He looked a chance at the top of the straight, but gradually ran out of gas and even copped a bump from Damon who was shifting inwards under pressure at the 50m.

Racing in a field of 12 horses, $7 favourite Sun Times (Manoel Nunes) took full advantage of his barrier No 1 to take the lead along the rails, followed closely by Paltrow (John Powell) and Celeritas (Alan Munro), while Lucky Lincoln (Zuriman Zulkifli) settled in the middle of the pack.

At the top of the straight, Lucky Lincoln was able to find a gap, and as early pacesetter Sun Times weakened before entering the final furlong, Paltrow and Celeritas overtook him on the outside.

As Lucky Lincoln found a second gear, Zuriman moved him level with Celeritas before they broke away to claim victory by one length.

A late surge from Numero Uno (Hasri Rahiman) earned him the second spot, while Silver Tycoon (John Sundradas) was edged out by a nose to finish third.

The winning time on the Polytrack was 1min12.39secs.

Marsh was understandably disappointed about his last run, but a bit of spell did the trick on the Lincoln Farms-owned gelding.

“There was pressure on him. We were a bit disappointed, so we decided to give him a bit of freshen up,” said the Kiwi conditioner, who recently welcomed Kranji’s star horse War Affair to his stable.

“We would want to put him on the grass track, probably 1400m.

“He’s a pretty fair horse, there’s more to come from him.”

Regular partner Zuriman, who had partnered Lucky Lincoln at all his four starts to date, said he had noticed a significant improvement during mount’s recent trackwork and trial.

“His work was very good. I was not on him at his last trial but I saw the video, and he ran very good,” said the hoop from Kelantan.

“He has improved a lot. Last time he overraced, and he did not know how to settle, though he probably needed that run too.”

“I think he will make a good stayer, as the dam and sire are all good long-distance horses.”

By Savabeel and out of Astradane, Lucky Lincoln has placed twice in four starts, and has collected more than $54,000 in total earnings for connections.