Tommy Lincoln returns to scale at Alexandra Park to a hero’s reception. PHOTO: Joel Gillan/Race Images.
Surprise package Tommy Lincoln, aka Timber, shooting for hat-trick on Friday night
By Barry Lichter • 19 June 2019
Nobody would argue Tommy Lincoln has been the surprise package of Lincoln Farms’ pacers this year.
Trainer Ray Green makes no secret of the fact he once described the horse as “big and gormless.”
When most of his two-year-old peers were running along at Pukekohe earlier in the season, “Timber” as he’s known around the stable, was still working out where to put his long legs.
“He was never one you labelled as a potential derby horse,’’ says Green. “But he’s just got better and better and here he is, the winner of two on end.
“He’s exceeded all our expectations, he’s done nothing wrong, and now he’s potentially a Sires’ Stakes horse.’’
Tommy Lincoln, outer, bravely fights off The Empress last start after sitting parked. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.The way Tommy Lincoln has won his last two starts, Green says he wouldn’t be surprised to see him go another big one in the fifth race at Auckland on Friday night, even from the outside of the front row.
Two early scratchings mean Tommy will have only five horses inside him, but two of those, Ferritt’s Sister and Bit Of A Tiger, have been running faster times in their recent wins.
Green says while overall times don’t mean much he wouldn’t like to see Tommy Lincoln have another hard run this week, after facing the breeze almost throughout two weeks ago and still outfinishing talented stablemate The Empress.
“He seems to have come through that race fine,’’ says Green. “He won’t be outclassed on Friday and who knows what he could do.’’
Man Of Action … has had two tough trips since resuming.Man Of Action has a different problem in the following race, leaving the gate from the inside of the second line.
But Green is quite happy about that as it will give him the chance to see what the two-year-old can do coming with a late run.
In both his two recent starts, Man Of Action has ended up parked outside the leader, still finishing strongly at Cambridge but only battling last time at Alexandra Park after hitting the front turning for home.
“That’s about the fastest he’s ever been last time and it took its toll but he wasn’t far away.
“We don’t know how he’ll come home in a race if saved for a run but at the trials he’s got home well after following.’’
Man Of Action might even fluke a nice marker peg run with aggressive driver Brent Mangos drawn in front of him on Verdelho.
“He’s pretty tractable and maybe he just needs to be a bit fitter to show up. The racing will tighten him up.’’
The Bull Pen badly graded
While The Bull Pen looks badly graded in the eighth race, Green says from his two draw he might just get the sweet run he obviously needs.
A rating 66 horse in a rating 64 to 95 race, The Bull Pen has to tackle in-form runners like Check In (R86), Baquero (R72) and Dance Time (R95), who is back from a campaign in Sydney and Melbourne where he won five times, the latest at Melton in 1:53.2 last month.
“But he’s a handy horse and if he’s on his game - and I can’t guarantee he is - he could get some of it.
“He’s trained pretty well but he also did that before his last run.’’
Last time out at Auckland on June 7, The Bull Pen lost his chance, breaking at the start.
“But he got pulling,’’ says Green. “We wanted to take him back off the gate but he took hold and resisted, put his head in the air, and galloped.’’
On Friday night, driver Zachary Butcher is sure to let the horse run to try to either lead or trail, a position from where he won five starts back.
“He seems well enough but he’s possibly had a virus. Sometimes you can’t see the symptoms, they don’t have to be lying down with snot pouring out of them to feel a bit flat.
“There are no champions against him on Friday and these are the sorts of horses he has to deal with from now on. If he does things correctly, you couldn’t write him off.’’
The Bull Pen easily beat Big On Personality in April after trailing. PHOTO: Joel Gillan/Race Images.
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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.
