Another setback for Tommy Lincoln, the winner of 16 races and $220,000. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.
Fingers crossed for Tuesday when leg scan will reveal the extent of Tommy’s injury
By Barry Lichter • 15 December 2023
It won’t be known until Tuesday how serious the injury is that has forced Tommy Lincoln out of Saturday night’s $50,000 Interdominion Consolation at Albion Park.
Trainer Mark Dux noticed damage to one of Tommy Lincoln’s front legs the morning after the third round of heats, when he died on a likely-looking home stretch bid to finish eighth.
“He has swelling in the leg which looks serious enough but until it is scanned on Tuesday we can’t define exactly what the problem is, but it’s either a tendon or suspensory ligament.
“There’s fluid in the leg like a tendon sheath is leaking but until the scan it’s only guess work.”
Dux says Tommy’s leg has always had a little puffiness in it, the result of wear and tear.
“But he’s raced a million times with it and it’s never worried him and we’ve never seen any change. “Hopefully what he’s done is not too serious. Today is the best it’s looked but I’m still not happy with it.”
Tommy Lincoln makes his run up the pegs for the minor money but weakened on his run.It’s a disappointing result for Dux who, for a few seconds early in the home straight last Saturday, thought Tommy was going to run right into the action from three deep on the pegs.
“It looked like he was going to run fourth at one stage but either he couldn’t quite run out that last 100 metres of the 2680 or he was feeling the leg.”
Tommy, a $151 outsider, ended up eighth but only 3.7 metres behind hot favourite Swayzee (fourth).
Dux would like to have seen Tommy take his place in the Consolation, where he had drawn to follow out hot favourite Cantfindabettorman, but he can now only rue the bad luck that has dogged the horse this season, a hamstring injury sidelining him for much of the year.
Niggly gate
Dux will look instead to Lincoln Farms’ ultra consistent Argyle to fly the flag in the opening race where only a niggly five gate is against him.
“I think he’s a really good chance but he’ll need an ounce of luck from that draw.
“There’s a lot of speed inside us. You’d think the one (Luvbite) will protect the fence and Docta Feelgood is very fast out. You just don’t know how hard they’ll go or how far.
“I guess Angus (Garrard) will just have to roll across on Argyle and play it by ear.”
Dux isn’t fazed by the fact So Sirius is a warm favourite, given he sat on Argyle’s back last time and beat him only a neck.
“Argyle went super sitting parked, he’s done well since and is looking terrific.”
Captain Nemo looked good winning three starts back but was a mysterious flop last start.Dux is not sure what to make of Captain Nemo’s chances in the second race, a heat of the Australasian Young Drivers’ Championship, currently led by Garrard.
Nemo gets experienced West Australian Emily Suvaljko, a 23-year-old veteran of 549 wins, whom he says is sure to do a good job.
But Nemo’s puzzling last-start seventh has left Dux unsure how to drive the horse from his good two gate.
“There’s no question he was disappointing. With the run he had he should have been right in the money but he was struggling on the bend.
“We did cop a lot of hot weather that week. Whether that knocked him around a bit I don’t know, but everything seemed to be OK.”
Dux says there’s good speed in the race but he’s not sure whether to forget the last run and drive Nemo strongly to try to cross the pole runner, or to take a nice trail and drive him cold.
“She might be best to drive him how he feels when he comes off the gate. If he feels strong, run the gate, if not, try to get a nice trip.
“The favourite (Aardies Flash) will be super hard to beat and the driver (Leonard Cain) knows him, having seen him race. They won’t be frightened to put him into the race.”
Argyle races at 7.22pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Captain Nemo races at 7.49pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Debbie Lincoln
5.26pm
“She had to sit parked most of the way last time but still went well, and that’s what she does. She’s proven to be a very promising filly and, while it’s hard these days to win without a good trip, it’s an even field and she’s a good chance again.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lou
5.55pm
“He probably cost himself a win last week by going roughly, but he can do that. If he’d got Frisco Bay’s trip he would have won with his closing quarters of 56 and 27 the fastest in the race. He’s just got to do things right to be the one to beat, even from the bad draw, as it’s an easier field.”
Race 5: Frisco Bay
7.30pm
“He’s up in grade a bit but I don’t think there’s anything between them. He’s just got to get the right run and, with his speed, he’ll be right in it.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.59pm
“He’s no superstar but he’s very honest and he’s always a place chance as he’s a tough bugger, he sat parked last week.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.59pm
“With a similar run to last week, he’d be right in it. He clocked 55.8 and 27.7, doing his best work at the finish. He hasn’t gone a bad race since he’s come back.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.59pm
“I wasn’t expecting him to do anything on debut as he’s a green, young horse. But he went very well so he’s obviously lifted his game for the occasion. And he’s trained on even better so the experience has enhanced him. From the inside he has to be a good chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.59pm
“She’s definitely a better animal left-handed but she was passable right-handed and should go better this time. She’s got some speed.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.59pm
“She’s a nice filly but is behind the others. I don’t expect her to beat anything but she needs the experience.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
8.59pm
“There won’t be any shadows for her to jump this time so she has to be a serious chance. She’d been dominant at the workouts and trials before her debut but didn’t get the chance to show her true worth.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.59pm
“Fergie was quite impressed with him on debut and requested the drive again. He finished on strongly up the lane and should go well again. He just needs some luck from the outside of the gate.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 3: Argyle
9.04pm NZ time
“I thought his last two starts have been terrific. There’s no doubt this race is tougher, and he has trickier draw, but I was talking to Angus last night and he was quite upbeat about his chances. He said the horse gave him a good feel when he sat parked two starts back and he picked him too (in the draft). But it won’t be easy. There could be a bit of pressure early. I think he’ll come out and see what unfolds and, if there is too much pressure, he’ll drive him quietly.”
Ray’s comments
Sunday at Manawatu
Race 1: Onyx Shard
5.29pm
“You can put a line through her last run at Cambridge when she pulled up showing signs of a respiratory infection. She had a couple of weeks off after that and, while she hasn’t trialled since, she’s been training down nicely. She’s a nice filly and from the good draw should really win.”
Race 3: Lincoln La Moose
6.19pm
“He wasn’t far away in the amateur race at Auckland last time despite jumping a shadow early and galloping. This is a decent drop in class for him and he should be very competitive.
