Trained by Joshua Davine and expertly handled by Kimberly Butt, the four-year-old was too strong for a very good group of mares.
In tonight’s feature, Kimberly used the mare’s gate speed and took on the role of pacer before Arafura came around with a lap left to run to get to the front.
When he stood up, Arafura had a slight advantage over Debbie Lincoln, but Debbie Lincoln had a little more gas in the tank and rose to defeat a brave Arafura.
DEBBIE LINCOLN REPETITION
The winning margin was a length and a quarter with three and three quarter lengths back to Mhai Surfer Girl.
“She was great. I actually thought we had worked too hard at the beginning, but then she got a little excited. Riding a horse like Arafura was a huge effort,” Butt said.
Debbie Lincoln was purchased by Debbie Green at the 2022 Weanling Sale in Auckland for $3,500 and trained by her husband Ray and his training partners Nat Delany, who won four races with her.
“She got a really good rap from Ray and Nat. She ran a super race for them in the Oaks here in November (5e). I think she’s a little underrated. She will get her chances here and I think she also feels a bit more comfortable as a left-hander.”
Debbie Lincoln is now trained by Australian Josh Davine, who also owns her.
“He works at Cran’s (Dalgety) and has been here most of the year and clearly loves it.”
The victory was Butt’s second Group One win. She rode Freeze Frame and won the Sires’ Stakes final at Addington in November.
“It was cool to get it pretty quickly after the first one. It’s always a buzz because they don’t come around that often.”
Kimberly’s father Anthony won the Breeders Stakes three years in a row with Blossom Lady and is expected to return home in a few weeks after a long spell in Australia.
It wasn’t just a good evening for Butt. Her partner Jonny Cox won two races with Treacherous Dream for Cran and Chrissie Dalgety and with his own runner Seaside Pond.
Meanwhile, Franco Sinatra (Captain Treacherous) with Hunter Cup hands tied, Carter Dalgety led all the way to win his twelfth race – all of which took place in Addington.
“I was really happy to get him up front. I haven’t been able to get him there in a while. He’s just so tough. He just keeps kicking. There was a pretty strong wind down the back. He felt as good as ever tonight,” Carter said.
The winning margin was a length and a quarter by Pinseeker.
FRANCO SINATRA REPEAT
The six-year-old trained by Cran and Chrissie Dalgety is owned by Nigel and Brendan Fahy, Rex Knowler, Dougal Steel and Steve and Raewyn James.
It was a good evening for Nigel, who also has a stake in Higher Power, which won at Alexandra Park for trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan.
Fahy has a busy few days ahead as he takes charge of the 35 yearlings his employer Breckon Farms is taking to the NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales in Karaka on Monday.
Included in the design is a full brother to Higher Power (Lot 108).
For full race results, click here.
Through Bruce Stewartfor Harnesslink
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