Tommy Lincoln in terrific form but he’s at the mercy of the pole runner on Saturday night
By Barry Lichter • 25 September 2021
Drawn the inside of the second row, Tommy Lincoln’s chances rest solely with the horse he follows out at Albion Park on Saturday night.
If Jeradas Delight holds the front, Tommy instantly becomes a live winning chance from the trail.
If the mare hands up, and puts Tommy three deep, he’s realistically only running for a place.
Trainer-driver Mark Dux says that’s the case in a nutshell for Tommy Lincoln who is racing right at the top of his game.
“I’m not sure how much gate speed Jeradas Delight has - she’s rarely drawn the front line - but I’m sure they wont want to be too far back with her.
“It will all come down to how quickly she comes out. She’s quite a good mare and would be a good one to follow.”
In her 24 starts in Queensland Jeradas Delight has racked up seven wins and 11 placings.
Brendan Barnes celebrates his win behind $151 longshot Jeradas Delight in the Golden Girl at Albion Park in July.Three starts back she sprung the upset of the season at Albion Park for driver Brendan Barnes when she downed top Kiwi mares Spellbound and Amazing Dream in the $100,000 Garrards Golden Girl, rating 1:52.5 for the 1660 metres.
Tommy’s best at Albion Park is a front-running 1:52.7 and he has since been just as effective at the longer 2138 metres, the distance of Saturday’s opening event.
“The 2138 metres will be no problem so long as he doesn’t fire up. It’s when he sees open spaces that’s his worst time.
“It’s a tricky alley but but he’s certainly going well enough to be among them.
“He was very good again last week. The leader (Will The Wizard) got away on us again but that was because the others couldn’t get us into the race.”
Angus Garrard has to go round his tiring rivals on Tommy Lincoln as leader Will The Wizard steals a march.When top junior Angus Garrard moved out from the one-one to lodge his challenge, the leader had set up an unassailable lead.
And it didn’t help when he contacted the off-side sulky tyre of Franco Hampton who was giving ground at the 500-metre mark. Tommy Lincoln then hung in near the 400m.
Tommy was still credited with faster closing sectionals than the winner, making up 3.2 metres on Will The Wizard and pacing home in 56.28 and 28.53, with the 1660 metres run in a mile rate of 1:51.7.
The previous week they ran even faster, Tommy finishing a 12.5 metre second to Will The Wizard who was only two tenths of a second outside the 1:50.4 track record jointly held by Im Themightyquinn and Cruz.
Tommy Lincoln just nabbed former Lincoln Farms’ flag bearer Northview Hustler in that event, the Hustler going on to run another ripper for Al Barnes last week when best of Turn It Up’s rivals after a one-one trip. The Hustler starts alongside Tommy on the second row on Saturday night.
Dux takes the reins on Tommy this week, Garrard committed to driving the Darren Weeks runner Speech Is Silver.
Tommy Lincoln races at 8.10pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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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.
