Copy That strides out for Maurice McKendry with Tommy Lincoln coiled up ready to pounce.
Tommy Lincoln and Man Of Action headline perfect workout day for Lincoln Farms’ team
By Barry Lichter • 11 July 2020
Tommy Lincoln and Man Of Action earned followings for Alexandra Park on Wednesday night with powerful wins at the Pukekohe workouts on Friday.
Lincoln Farms lined up nine horses in four heats and won them all with Tommy Lincoln, Man Of Action, Franco Nandor and Louie The Punter showing their best.
You couldn’t help but be impressed with Tommy Lincoln who, for the third time in workouts this prep, pipped star three-year-old Copy That in the rating 53 to 94 heat over 2500 metres.
After spearing to an early lead from the pole, Tommy Lincoln and Zachary Butcher handed up mid-heat to Copy That and Maurice McKendry who looped the field from last.
When presented with a gap on the inner in the run home Tommy Lincoln, a rating 53 horse, accelerated stylishly to put a neck on Copy That, a racing 94 horse, short of the post.
They ran the 2500 metres in 3:13.5, a mile rate of 2:04.6, with the last 800 metres in 57.7 and 400 in 27.1.
Trainer Ray Green described Tommy Lincoln as a much improved pacer this campaign but noted Copy That was a very lazy horse “who only does what he has to.
“That’s why we put Maurice on today to give him a good feel for the horse.”
The pair’s first outing together at the races 10 days ago proved disastrous when Copy That started hitting the sulky wheels and slung his hook, McKendry pulling him up 1200 metres from home.
Man Of Action trials superbly for Zachary Butcher.Man Of Action’s last start at Auckland was also a frustrating one for his owners when he galloped leading 150 metres from home, seemingly having the race won.
On Friday he never looked like putting a foot wrong after Butcher took an early lead, easily fended off trailer Mimi E Coco when she pulled out of the trail to challenge down the back straight, and went on to score an easy two and a half length win.
Man Of Action ran the 2050 metres in 2:35.1, a mile rate of 2:01.7, ramping it right up over the last half in 56.6 and quarter in 26.8.
Butcher revealed they’d pulled Man Of Action’s hopples up one hole for the workout, a tweak which obviously worked.
Stablemate American Dealer, who won the race Man Of Action threw away, cruised home for fourth, five lengths from the winner, without being asked to sprint by driver Andrew Drake.
Andrew Drake looks across on Franco Nandor to see Zachary Butcher coming on stablemate Captain Nemo.Franco Nandor led all the way in his heat for Drake, staving off stablemate Captain Nemo who sat last, moved up from the bell and, shaken up by Butcher, came up half a length short.
Franco Nandor ran excellent last sectionals of 56.2 and 26.8, with his mile rate 2:04.1 and the 2050 metre trip in 2:38.1.
The pair, now part-owned by top golfers Ryan Fox and Gareth Paddison, who were gifted shares by Lincoln Farms’ boss John Street, will be improved for their fresh-up runs on July 1 when they finished fourth and fifth behind the impressive Prince Of Pleasure.
Louie The Punter … all the way for Ben Butcher.Louie The Punter continued his rapid progress of recent weeks with an all-the-way win in the learners’ heat over 2050 metres.
Driver Ben Butcher never had to ask the Sweet Lou half brother to Double Or Nothing for his best as he held a half length advantage over Tony Herlihy’s Cowboys N Bandits, clocking 2:41, a mile rate of 2:06.4, closing in 59.8 and 28.1
Aurora Stride (Butcher) fought on OK for third, half a length further back, with Brian Christopher fourth (Drake) another length and a quarter away.
Green said two-year-old Louie The Punter had been a bit slow coming to it.
“But he seems to have arrived now and I expect he’ll qualify next week and then be off to the races.
“He’s improved a lot. Whether he’s a Sires’ Stakes horse remains to be seen.”
More news in Harness
‘The Kid’ flying but Argyle up against it to add good points in novel drivers’ challenge
Street’s emotion-charged night in the winners’ room - sad loss before a record four wins
It’s green jackets all the way and Ray fancies improving surprise packet Prince Lincoln
The Lincoln Wave secret is well and truly out now, but who was that mystery underbidder?
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.
