Debbie Lincoln (Lather Up) has been a silent achiever in the fillys and mares ranks and tonight at Addington in the $100,000 G1 Fahy Fence Hire NZ Breeders Stakes she proved she’s top shelf.

Trained by Joshua Davine and expertly handled by Kimberly Butt the four year old was too strong for a very good bunch of mares.

In tonight’s feature Kimberly used the mare’s gate speed and took up the pacemaker role before Arafura came round with a lap to run to take the front.

Straightening up, Arafura had a slight advantage over Debbie Lincoln, but Debbie Lincoln had a bit more petrol in the tank, getting up to beat a brave Arafura.

DEBBIE LINCOLN REPLAY

The winning margin was a length and a quarter with three and three quarter lengths back to Mhai Surfer Girl.

“She was awesome. I actually thought we’d worked too hard early, then she got a bit keen. To run down a horse like Arafura was a massive effort,” Butt said.

Debbie Lincoln was bought by Debbie Green at the 2022 Weanling Sale in Auckland for $3,500 and was trained by her husband Ray and his training partners Nat Delany who won four races with her.

“She came down with a very good rap from Ray and Nat. She ran a super race for them in the Oaks down here in November (5^th). I think she’s been a little bit underrated. She’s getting her opportunities down here and I think she’s a bit more comfortable left handed too.”

Debbie Lincoln is now trained by Australian Josh Davine who also owns her.

“He’s based at Cran’s (Dalgety) and has been over here for most of the year and is loving it obviously.”

The win was Butt’s second Group One. She drove Freeze Frame to win the Sires’ Stakes Final at Addington in November.

“It was cool to get it quite quick after the first one. It’s aways a buzz because they don’t come round very often.”

Kimberly’s father Anthony won the Breeders Stakes three years in a row with Blossom Lady and he’s expected to return home in a couple of weeks after a lengthy stint in Australia.

It was not only a good night 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 (Captaintreacherous) in the hands of Hunter Cup bound Carter Dalgety led all the way to win his twelfth race – all of which have been at Addington.

“I was really happy to get him on the front. I haven’t been able to get him there for a while. He’s just so tough. He just keeps kicking. It was quite a strong wind down the back. He felt as good as ever tonight,” Carter said.

The winning margin was a length and a quarter from Pinseeker.

FRANCO SINATRA REPLAY

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 night for Nigel who also has a share in Higher Power which won at Alexandra Park for trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan.

Fahy is in for a busy few days as he’s in charge of the 35 yearlings his employer Breckon Farms are taking to the NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales at Karaka on Monday.

Included in the draft is a full brother to Higher Power (Lot 108).

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink