Big Diesel opens favourite for Pukekohe where he gets the 1600 metres he needs - plus Opie

A step-up to 1600 metres and the advantage of racing on his home track will see Lincoln Springs very hard to beat at Pukekohe on Thursday.

Trainer Nigel Tiley is very pleased with how the giant three-year-old nicknamed Diesel has progressed since his last-start second at Avondale and, with top jockey Opie Bosson on, replacing the suspended Leith Innes, he has opened the TAB’s $2.90 fixed odds favourite in the ninth race.

Tiley likes the fact that Lincoln Springs is stepping up to 1600 metres after running second over 1200 metres at Ruakaka and similarly placed at Avondale over 1400 metres.

“The 1600 metres is what he’s looking for,” said Tiley.

“He’s a horse who’s in-form and the form around him is good.”

While Lincoln Springs had no answer to the speed of Avondale winner Midnight Magic, third-placed Madam Pompom won her next start, at Te Aroha.

Tiley had Lincoln Springs aimed at last week’s meeting at Avondale which was abandoned through lack of entries.

Nigel Tiley gives the lowdown on Lincoln Springs at Avondale to part-owner Ian Middleton.“I’ve just been ticking him over and keeping him happy and he certainly hasn’t gone backwards since his last run. I’ve been very happy with his training.

“He’ll be hard to beat and he can certainly win with the right run.

“I’m not too concerned that he’s drawn out. He’s a big-striding horse who will work his way over. He gets into a nice rhythm and keeps rolling.

“It’s a shame he has to race the older horses on Thursday whereas the Avondale race was against his own age group but he’s on his home track and that always helps.”

Tiley will use a tongue tie on Lincoln Springs after top jockey Leith Innes reported he was getting his tongue back in his mouth at Avondale.

“I’ve worked him in it and he’s happy.”

Innes also reported at Avondale that Lincoln Springs was still “a big baby, who didn’t know yet how to quicken.”

But Innes said Lincoln Springs had tried hard and never gave up despite having to work very hard from the outside gate, stuck three wide on the pace until the 800.

“Reverse the draws and you would have reversed the result,” said Tiley of the horse’s brave second placing.