Tommy Lincoln (Andre Poutama), outer, gets the better of stablemate The Empress (Zachary Butcher) at Auckland in June. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.
Big Tommy Lincoln sure to strip fitter so will be dangerous from the pole on Friday night
By Barry Lichter • 30 October 2019
Trainer Ray Green expects Tommy Lincoln to be dangerous from the pole despite facing some up-and-coming rivals at Auckland on Friday night.
Tommy Lincoln is the lowest graded in the rating 57 to 63 seventh race, Green having already scratched stablemate The Empress because of her bad draw.
But the race is no harder than the one he faced fresh-up at Alexandra Park last Friday when Green “threw him in the deep end” in the Sires’ Stakes heat.
Big Tommy might have run only sixth, but Green was plenty happy with his performance considering he had not raced for four months and winner Line Up recorded a fast 1:54.4 mile.
The American Ideal three-year-old, after being given a perfect one-one sit by Andre Poutama, was under pressure turning for home but, in typical style, fought on bravely, and lost fourth only in the last 100 metres.
Tommy Lincoln ended up 5.2 lengths from the winner and paced the mile in 1:55.4, a fine first-up effort.
Green quite rightly predicted Tommy Lincoln would need the run last week and when asked if he’s still a run away, Green replied: “Who knows? He’ll obviously keep improving but he should go well, especially from the good draw.”
While overall the opposition is no tougher than last week, he does bash heads this time with the promising Barry Purdon-trained Henry Hu.
Tommy Lincoln, however, has shown he has plenty of mettle too, proving the real late season find for Lincoln Farms as a two-year-old, stringing together a hat-trick of wins, taking each step up with aplomb.
David Butcher, who won on the horse in May, takes the reins on Friday night.
Trainer Ray Green with Bettor My Dreamz. PHOTO: Joel Gillan/Race Images.Butcher is also behind Lincoln Farms’ only other runner on Friday, Bettor My Dreamz, in the sixth race.
The Bettor’s Delight four-year-old finally gets a draw to work with, as a result of being a rating 66 horse in a rating 66 to 90 field.
In his last three starts he’s been in weaker fields but consequentially was saddled with barriers 13, seven and seven.
He had no chance last week when five deep on the markers in Wainui Creek’s 1:54.9 mile but wasn’t far from the prize when second to Delightful Major and fourth to Ball Of Art in his two starts before that.
“At least he’ll be in the race this time,” says Green. “But he really needs to go down a grade.”
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Lincoln LInda
5.14pm
“The fillies she raced against in the Sires’ Stakes Semi were the best around so this is a massive drop in class for her. I imagine Fergie will work his way forward, as she’s best in front, and then she’d become the one to beat.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
5.16pm
“The draw helps as he likes being in front. The raw ability is there but from time to time he’s reluctant to show it. But that last start was a vast improvement.”
Race 1: Colonel Lincoln
5.16pm
“He was definitely in need of the run first-up and will benefit from another. He’s been off the scene for a long time.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.08pm
“He did well second-up, peeling off a 55.1 half. He’s been a slow maturer but I think he’s getting stronger as he gets older - he certainly feels much stronger in his work.”
Race 5: Lincoln Wave
7.08pm
“The Cambridge race has brought him on and I’m sure he’ll go well again, but he won’t be butchered a week out from the Derby. I don’t want to get carried away but he’s a pretty good horse, the best of our three in the race. He’s a year younger than Suger Ray but has a bit more ability. It’s hard to know where he’ll take us but he has the potential to be a classic colt.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.08pm
“He’s in the zone, he’s feeling really great, and he won’t go badly. But he’ll need luck from the draw.”
Race 9: Spiritual Bliss
9.04pm
“She’s racing better horses now and has done well to cop getting parked in some hard-run races. Leading is her go and she’ll get her chance from the inside draw.”
Race 10: Rivergirl Bella
9.36pm
“She has got a bit of speed but she can’t carry it very far. But if she gets the right trip, and gets out at the right time, not too soon, she’s always a chance.”
Race 10: Jessie Lincoln
9.36pm
“Harry blamed himself for the horse breaking at the start at Cambridge - he said he asked her to go a bit too quickly off the gate. She shouldn’t do it again. She’ll hold her own here, I’m sure.”
Race 10: Marylynes Boy
9.36pm
“He’s been training well but he’s only a little colt having his first start and from the second row I think Nathan will be happy to just see him get around safely.”
