Brave Tommy off the canvas and back for round number two after brutal track record KO
By Barry Lichter • 15 September 2022
A brutal track record-run race last week took its toll on Tommy Lincoln but trainer Mark Dux says he’s ready to go again on Saturday night.
For the first time in Queensland, Dux said Tommy really knew he’d had a run when trying to chase the runaway Blacksadance who, incredibly, paced a mile rate of 1:49.2 for the 1660 metres, slicing eight tenths of a second off his existing Albion Park record.
Dux didn’t know if Tommy would even recover in time to race this week when he put in a nomination on Monday, anticipating the field might fall away this week.
“But I’ve been nice and easy on him this week and he’s feeling pretty good now.”
Dux correctly predicted Tommy would land the one-one sit behind Blacksadance last Saturday night but his guess that Tommy might get dropped on the home turn proved a little astray when all of 600 metres out, commentator Chris Barsby called “boom boom time.”
“Tommy was left out chasing him just too far from home,” Dux said. “He put three-quarters of a length on the inside horse but in the straight he was on his hands and knees.”
Dux said he couldn’t believe Blacksadance was able to sit parked and run his rivals into the ground with blistering sectionals of 26.4, 28.2, 27 and 27.6.
“The 2138 metres this week is a bit further than Tommy likes but he won’t have to run such brutal sectionals.
“From a nice alley (three) we’ll go forward and I’d be surprised if anything inside tried to park us so he should find the fence.
“I think he’s a really good place chance.”
Dux believes former Lincoln Farms’ flagbearer Northview Hustler is the one to beat on the way he ran home last week for second. Brendan Barnes, son of majority owner Al Barnes, this week took over training the eight-year-old who is looking to score win No. 21 at his pet distance.
“Will The Wizard is probably the next best chance but, like Tommy, he’s not as strong over 2138.”
Tommy Lincoln races at 9.23pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
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Ray hoping Santa comes early at Cambridge on Tuesday with strong team of seven
Brace for Ray and Lincoln Farms at Cambridge but Colonel’s placing just as thrilling
Ray: Preferential draw for top fillies makes it tough for everyone else in Golden Gait series
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Cambridge
Race 2: Colonel Lincoln
1.35pm
“This looks a good race for him. We haven’t done anything with him since Thursday but, with natural improvement after such a long spell, he has to be the one to beat.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
3.04pm
“She should be dangerous from two. It was a good effort to sit parked last week and you’d expect natural improvement from that fresh-up run. She’s a pretty good filly.”
Race 5: Commander Lincoln
3.05pm
“Onyx Shard looks a better chance from two but he has the advantage of being hard fit.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
3.29pm
“This is a big drop in class for him and he is definitely the one to beat, on paper. From the inside draw you’re obligated to leave, or risk being crossed, but he gets out okay.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
3.29pm
“It was a better run than it looked last time when she was held up in the home straight. She’s improving dramatically all the time and I expect her to give them a fright.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
3.58pm
“The winning time was only 2:47 last week but It wouldn’t have mattered what time they went, he was going to win. This is harder but there’s no reason he couldn’t do it again.”
Race 9: The Big Lebowski
4.57pm
“He stands over them on class and you can’t fault what he’s doing. He’s a big winning chance, despite the 35 metre handicap. He’s the only one on the mark so he should step well and be the one to beat.”
Ray’s comments
Tuesday at Auckland
Race 2: Colonel Lincoln
3.39pm
“He’s a beautiful horse, and a quality mover, who’s finally demonstrating his ability. He’s done a lot of work and has had a good, solid build-up so he’ll cop a bit of racing now and I don’t see why he won’t be in it again.”
Race 2: Frisco Bay
3.39pm
“If you put him in front or in the breeze he over-races. He needs a run where he can relax in behind - every time he’s got a two-hole trip he’s won. He’s a bit one-dimensional in that respect but he’s got a lot of speed and, if he’d drawn better, I’d have labelled him.”
Race 3: Lincoln Lou
4.04pm
“On paper, he should be favourite. You can’t fault that last run in the Golden Gait and if he repeats that he’s the one to beat. He seems to be back to where we had him before. He’s been incredibly unlucky in a lot of his races. We don’t need good luck, we’re just looking for no bad luck.”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
4.04pm
“I can’t see him beating our other two. I don’t think we’ll see the best of him until well into his three-year-old year. He’s a big, rangy, slow developing horse. We’ll race him on Tuesday then give him a bit of a break.”
Race 3: Debbie Lincoln
4.04pm
“I know this is a step-up in grade, and she’s drawn the outside, but I’ve got a feeling she could be up to it. Her driver, Maurice McKendry, is very enthusiastic about her and he’s no fool. He’s been happy every time he’s sat behind her. She keeps getting better and potentially could be a high class three-year-old filly. I’m quite excited about her.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
4.30pm
“He won’t burn off any quick beginners but he showed he could hold his own from the inside when he won two starts back. He’s just got to do it without doing anything tricky. He can pace roughly, he’s not the complete package yet, but when the penny drops he’ll be a serious horse.”
Race 9: The Big Lebowski
7.17pm
“I wasn’t disappointed with his last run. It’s hard to win those races from long back marks at Cambridge - Copy That had to go a New Zealand record to do it. He’s as good as he can be at the moment but these are the best horses in commission and we’ll be grateful for what we can get.”
