Our brave Tommy leaves them standing and gives owners a sniff of an Interdominion tilt
By Barry Lichter • 21 January 2023
Tommy Lincoln’s owners might have had to wait 10 months to see his all-the-way win at Albion Park tonight but trainer Mark Dux believes they have plenty more fun in store with the six-year-old.
And he hinted that if the six-year-old is still hale and hearty come the end of the year they might just get to experience the thrill of racing a horse in an Interdominion series.
“The Interdoms are in our back yard in December and if he’s still here and fit and well, we can throw in a nomination and see what happens.
“It’s not like we’d be putting him in just to make up numbers as we know he can run the time.
“Realistically he can’t beat a horse like Copy That but anything can happen in a race and, if he draws an alley, we know he can follow speed no matter how fast they run.
“He’s just below the very best because he needs everything to go his way but he’s more than competitive with the right trip.”
Tommy Lincoln is also very tough, a trait demanded of Interdominion runners who usually compete four times in two weeks.
Mathew Neilson looks across but has the favourite Manila Playboy well covered.“Even though he doesn’t win a lot, he comes out and runs fast times every week. He was only sixth and fourth in his last two races but they were a couple of his better runs considering the quality of horses he’s been racing and the runs he’s been getting.
“For a change he got a good draw tonight and he won it with no dramas, ran good time, and Mathew didn’t even pull the plugs.”
Dropping his opposition with a 27.3 third quarter, driver Mathew Neilson shot clear rounding the bend to record a mile rate of 1:52.8 for the 1660 metres.
“Mathew knew he had the danger (Manila Playboy) out the back and it had to run real fast sectionals to catch him.
“It was funny tonight, he said as soon as he led, the horse relaxed and dropped the bit. He didn’t know if that was good or bad but, as soon as he got down the back, he knew he had plenty of horse.”
Though Manila Playboy made up many lengths from last at the 400, Tommy Lincoln’s 55.8 dash home was too much for the favourite who couldn’t get any closer than 4.6 metres at the line.
Tommy’s winning purse of A$8832 took his Australian earnings to A$94,390 which, added to his New Zealand bankroll of $85,558 took him to within a couple of thousand dollars of $200,000 in career earnings.
“It takes a nice horse to win 15 races and get to that level.”
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Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
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.
