Tommy Lincoln, inner, and Copy That ran the quinella again at Friday’s Pukekohe workouts, sizzling home in 26.6.
Tommy Lincoln and American Dealer catch the eye again at Pukekohe workouts
By Barry Lichter • 28 June 2020
Tommy Lincoln and American Dealer looked early winners for Lincoln Farms with smart workout wins at Pukekohe.
For the second week on end Tommy Lincoln pipped stable star Copy That half a head in the faster class 2050 metre heat, leading throughout from the pole and matching his far higher rated rival in the run to the line.
The pair clocked a swift 2:00.5 mile rate, ripping home from the 800 in 57.2 and 400 in a blistering 26.6.
Trainer Ray Green was impressed by both horses, declaring Tommy Lincoln a far stronger horse than last season.
“He’s improved immensely and I can’t fault what he’s doing.”
Green says he’s sure Copy That would have run past Tommy Lincoln had driver Zachary Butcher slapped him on the bum.
“I don’t think he would have cleared off - they were running pretty fast - but Copy That only does what he has to.
“He might need a couple of races when he comes back to get that next level of fitness as the competition isn’t strong enough to test him at the trials.”
Green and owner Merv Butterworth have scrapped the idea of running in the South East Derby in Queensland next month, with COVID-19 affecting both travel and quarantine.
“His main mission will be cup day in Christchurch in November.”
Man Of Action, while only fourth of four in the same heat on Friday, also pleased Green, driver Andre Poutama not hooking out in the run home and finishing only two lengths astern.
American Dealer and David Butcher look set for a prosperous campaign.American Dealer showed improvement on his run at the workouts a week earlier when he finished too powerfully for Hello It’s Me to win the up-to-rating 55 heat.
Third last early, driver David Butcher manoeuvred into the one-one 700 metres from home and showed good toe to reel off sectionals of 58 and 27.7, winning in a mile rate of 2:02.3.
Larry Lincoln, who followed his stablemate over the last lap was also strong on the line, just a head, a length and a quarter and a head back, Poutama again siting quietly.
Lincoln Farms’ third winner of the day, Franco Nandor, now part-owned by leading Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox, scored his second workout win on end, leading, then trailing early.
David Butcher popped off the fence to sit outside the pacemaking Ronda for the last lap and was too good, closing in 59 and 27.6 and holding well by a neck in a more sedate 2:05.1 mile rate.
Captain Nemo … another solid run at Friday’s workouts.Captain Nemo finished second in his heat for fellow golfer Gareth Paddison, also gifted a share by Lincoln Farms’ boss John Street.
He powered home three wide for Butcher and did well to run Tony Herlihy’s Prince Of Pleasure to a length and a half after Herlihy stole a marker run through on the inside.
The heat was run in a 2:06.6 mile rate, the leader home in 60 and 27.4.
Apieceoflou passed muster with a solid fourth after starting from the second row and racing one-out and two back for the last lap.
Lincoln Farms also notched seconds with Aurora Stride and Brian Christopher in learners’ heats over 2050 metres.
Aurora Stride … showed good gate speed.Auroroa Stride showed tidy gate speed to lead then trail and, in a four-way blanket finish, was just a head behind Brent Mangos’ Supasundae, with a nose and neck to fourth-placed stablemate Louie The Punter who made a big run four wide round the final turn.
The leaders cut out the 2050 metres in a 2:07.7 mile rate, home in 61 and 28.6.
Spice It Up tired late from the trail to finish fifth, the only disappointing effort of Lincoln Farms’ 12 runners on the day.
Green revealed the speedy fully had tied up again, a complaint which stopped her previous campaign.
“We’ll adopt a new plan with her now - we just can’t give her a day off.”
Brian Christopher (David Butcher) was run down a head by Zarias in his heat with trainer-driver Zachary Butcher’s charge doing well after sitting parked for the last 600 metres.
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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.
