American interest in Queensland slayer Tommy Lincoln - the perfect horse for Yonkers
By Barry Lichter • 9 July 2021
Some eyes from afar were trained on Tommy Lincoln when he trounced this rivals again at Albion Park tonight.
And trainer Ray Green says if the American buyers are serious, his third best horse might not be a Lincoln Farms’ flag bearer for much longer.
“I reckon he’d be the perfect horse for America, particularly at a track like Yonkers, with his gate speed and his rolling in front style.”
Tommy Lincoln second-rated the field tonight, spearing to the early lead for driver Anthony Butt and winning as he liked in a 1:55.4 mile rate for the 2138 metres.
Tommy Lincoln cruises home.Butt reeled off opening quarters of 30.8 and 29.5 before putting away his opposition with a lightning fast 26.7 third quarter.
The horse only had to roll home in 27.9 to clock a closing half of 54.6 and take the event by 5.9 metres, former one-win Canterbury pacer Bettor Call Me best of the rest but never any danger.
“It was a gimme really, he was way better than them. It’s a huge drop in class on what he’s been racing in Auckland.
“That was an M0 tonight and he did it easily. And the next one won’t be terribly much harder I wouldn’t think.”
Green said Tommy Lincoln was his third best horse behind Copy That and American Dealer and he’d already done a great job winning 10 races and about $110,000 from only 32 starts.
“That’s pretty good for a horse who cost only $10,000 as a weanling.”
Green and Lincoln Farms’ boss John Street singled out the American Ideal youngster at the Karaka sales, taken not only by his strength but his pedigree. They’d already raced two of Tania Tandias’ progeny - Lincoln Road (14 wins) and Lincoln’s Girl (19 wins).
Anthony Butt brings Tommy back after his easy win.Marburg trainer Al Barnes bought Lincoln Road and later trained Lincoln’s Girl for Lincoln Farms before she was sold to the United States where she has taken record of 1:51.8.
“All that family has been good - a little bit hot but good, tough racehorses - and it looks like Tommy will be the best of them.”
A two-year-old out of Tania Tandias which Auckland Danny Blakemore snapped up for $6500 as a weanling has already been sold and, named Harry Kane, is now in training with Steven Reid.
Tommy Lincoln paid the princely sum of $1.10 to win but added $7756 to his bankroll for owners John and Lynne Street, Ian Middleton, Shannon and Brenda Flay, Ian, Kathy and Daniel Parkinson, Debbie Sparks, Ray Menzies and Denis Ebert.
He has now earned A$12,568 from his three starts in Brisbane to go with the $97,515 he won in New Zealand.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Debbie Lincoln
5.26pm
“She had to sit parked most of the way last time but still went well, and that’s what she does. She’s proven to be a very promising filly and, while it’s hard these days to win without a good trip, it’s an even field and she’s a good chance again.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lou
5.55pm
“He probably cost himself a win last week by going roughly, but he can do that. If he’d got Frisco Bay’s trip he would have won with his closing quarters of 56 and 27 the fastest in the race. He’s just got to do things right to be the one to beat, even from the bad draw, as it’s an easier field.”
Race 5: Frisco Bay
7.30pm
“He’s up in grade a bit but I don’t think there’s anything between them. He’s just got to get the right run and, with his speed, he’ll be right in it.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.59pm
“He’s no superstar but he’s very honest and he’s always a place chance as he’s a tough bugger, he sat parked last week.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.59pm
“With a similar run to last week, he’d be right in it. He clocked 55.8 and 27.7, doing his best work at the finish. He hasn’t gone a bad race since he’s come back.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.59pm
“I wasn’t expecting him to do anything on debut as he’s a green, young horse. But he went very well so he’s obviously lifted his game for the occasion. And he’s trained on even better so the experience has enhanced him. From the inside he has to be a good chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.59pm
“She’s definitely a better animal left-handed but she was passable right-handed and should go better this time. She’s got some speed.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.59pm
“She’s a nice filly but is behind the others. I don’t expect her to beat anything but she needs the experience.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
8.59pm
“There won’t be any shadows for her to jump this time so she has to be a serious chance. She’d been dominant at the workouts and trials before her debut but didn’t get the chance to show her true worth.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.59pm
“Fergie was quite impressed with him on debut and requested the drive again. He finished on strongly up the lane and should go well again. He just needs some luck from the outside of the gate.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 3: Argyle
9.04pm NZ time
“I thought his last two starts have been terrific. There’s no doubt this race is tougher, and he has trickier draw, but I was talking to Angus last night and he was quite upbeat about his chances. He said the horse gave him a good feel when he sat parked two starts back and he picked him too (in the draft). But it won’t be easy. There could be a bit of pressure early. I think he’ll come out and see what unfolds and, if there is too much pressure, he’ll drive him quietly.”
Ray’s comments
Sunday at Manawatu
Race 1: Onyx Shard
5.29pm
“You can put a line through her last run at Cambridge when she pulled up showing signs of a respiratory infection. She had a couple of weeks off after that and, while she hasn’t trialled since, she’s been training down nicely. She’s a nice filly and from the good draw should really win.”
Race 3: Lincoln La Moose
6.19pm
“He wasn’t far away in the amateur race at Auckland last time despite jumping a shadow early and galloping. This is a decent drop in class for him and he should be very competitive.
