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
Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
A picture of Bliss but poor Harry’s arms were nearly pulled out of their sockets
Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
