Tommy Lincoln, spreaders on, scores all the way for driver Andre Poutama.
Spreaders do the trick for big Tommy who is worth following at Auckland on Friday
By Barry Lichter • 10 November 2019
Spreaders looked to help Tommy Lincoln when he blazed to an impressive all-the-way win at the Pukekohe workouts yesterday.
Wearing the gear to stop him from getting on a knee, which has hampered him this campaign, Tommy Lincoln never looked like putting a foot wrong as he burst to the early lead in the rating 52 to 66 mobile 2050 metre heat.
Driver Andre Poutama had Tommy pacing along sweetly throughout and he opened up in the run home to clock a closing 400 in a sizzling 26.7.
At the line he had a length and three-quarters to spare over trailer The Paua Diver, Dina Brown and Some Do who finished only necks apart, with the trip run in 2:35.1, a mile rate of 2:01.7.
Trainer Ray Green liked Tommy Lincoln’s closing split and fancies his chances at Auckland this week.
“Tommy’s got on a knee in both his starts this time in but he should be good to show us something on Friday.”
Ace Commander began fast from a stand in the rating 66 and faster trot, leading until the run home when gathered in by The Hulk who scored by a length.
In a close photo finish, Ace Commander held second by half a head over the classy Tickle Me Pink with Delson a nose back fourth, both running on stylishly late.
On the comeback trail after an operation for an entrapped epiglottis, Ace Commander had a high heart rate afterwards and trainer Ray Green says he’s still “a work in progress.”
Captain Nemo leads with Platinum Stride ranging alongside turning for home.Young Guns two-year-olds Captain Nemo, Platinum Stride and Bondi Shake all shaped up well in the two-year-old mile, run left handed.
Zachary Butcher found an easy early lead with Platinum Stride from four but handed up on the first turn to Captain Nemo and Andre Poutama. And that’s how they stayed, with Graeme Rogerson’s $190,000 sale topper Challenger next in the running and Bondi Shake (Andrew Drake) at the rear.
Butcher was out to challenge 600 metres from home and looked to be giving Platinum Stride a very easy time as he went across the line, Captain Nemo getting the judge’s nod by a nose.
There was one and a quarter lengths to Challenger and Dylan Ferguson and half a length to Bondi Shake who resented being hauled back at the start and came widest on the home turn.
The mile was cut out in 2:07.7, with the leading pair going 60.2 for the last 800 and 28.4 for the 400.
It was good effort in his first outing by Captain Nemo, a Captaintreacherous colt out of Arden Caviar, whom Green bought for $110,000 as a yearling in Christchurch in February.
Green has the trio, along with Vanquish Stride, headed for the first Young Guns’ heat at Auckland on December 13.
“It’s less than five weeks away so they’ll need to step up from now. But I’m sure they will, we haven’t pushed them yet.”
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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.
