Everyone loves Tommy but soon he’s going to be mere cannon fodder for the big guns

Tommy Lincoln’s owners have enjoyed a great ride this year but trainer Ray Green knows that inevitably it has to come to an end.

Tommy’s upset win over Star Galleria at Auckland on Friday night brought to four the number of races he’s won at Alexandra Park this year.

And he did it in typically Tommy style, his end-to-end take no prisoners MO seeing him hold off the red hot favourite by half a length in a 1:54.4 mile.

But with a career tally of seven wins and $71,465, Tommy now has a rating in the mid 70s and Green knows that, sadly, the wins will now get much fewer and far between.

“It’s an unfortunate fact that once horses like him get up in the grades they end up cannon fodder for the ones like Copy That and Self Assured.”

Tommy also was limited by his inability to stick out 2700 metres, he said.

“He’s hard to beat on the front end over a sprint, if he draws well, but he’s not strong enough to cope with anything further than 2200 metres. The 2700 metre stands find him out.

“He really needs to be sold as the longer he goes, the less he’ll be worth.

“He’d be great in the States. If you had a horse like him, racing at Yonkers, with his gate speed you’d get a living off him.”

The balancing act Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street have to play is that they also have loyalty to their partners in the horse and have so far repelled any offers.

Gentleman Tommy Lincoln lowers his head for a pat from first time owner Debbie Sparks and her niece Lara after an earlier win.The joy the gang are experiencing was obvious in the winners’ bar on Friday night when John Street gifted the trophy to one woman who has yet to lay eyes on the horse.

Along with Ray Menzies, Shannon and Brenda Flay, Dennis Ebert and Ian Middleton, members of the Parkinson and Sparks syndicate also idolise the horse.

Last night it was the turn of Ian and Kathy Parkinson’s daughter Linda to keep the wine glasses. She wasn’t there to accept them as she lives in Sydney, but she is said to be determined to get home to watch Tommy race when COVID-19 allows it.

Bred by Lincoln Farms, from its former mare Tania Tandias who also produced good winners Lincoln Road and Lincoln’s Girl, Tommy Lincoln had no trouble crossing the pole runner On A Roll on Friday night.

And, with driver David Butcher gifted a 29 second third quarter, he had plenty left in the tank for the late challenges of Star Galleria, who sat parked, and Dance Time, reeling off closing sectionals of 55.4 and 26.5.