Gentleman Tommy Lincoln lowers his head for a pat from first time owner Debbie Sparks and her niece Lara after his brave win.
Tommy oh so brave for first-time owners - but the boss keeps family’s expectations in check
By Barry Lichter • 8 June 2019
Lincoln Farms’ boss John Street had a word of warning for his new partners in Tommy Lincoln after the big two-year-old made it two on end at Auckland on Friday night.
Street was making his acceptance speech in the hospitality room at Alexandra Park where he was joined by a throng of family members completely new to racing.
“I’ve got some of my family involved - nieces, nephews - and this is the first horse they’ve ever raced.
“It’s great to get people involved in our partnerships, they get a big thrill out of it and it doesn’t cost them an arm and a leg.
“But I had to say to them tonight you don’t win every time you go to the races!”
Street’s niece Debbie Sparks and her husband Rob were oblivious to the fact very few horses are good enough to sit parked throughout and still win, let alone a two-year-old. But that’s exactly what the overgrown baby nicknamed Timber did before running down his better backed stablemate The Empress.
Out in the winners’ circle with Sparks were her six-year-old niece Lara, nephew Matt, and other family members including Ian and Kathy Parkinson and their son Daniel, all enjoying the thrill of winning thanks to a visit to Lincoln Farms’ Pukekohe stable at Christmas.
“John had a list of four or five horses we could take a share in and Tommy was the only one who came straight up to us so we chose him,’’ said Sparks.
“My dad Kevin was feeding him a carrot.’’
Shannon Flay with her sister Brenda, right, who has taken up her late father’s share in Tommy Lincoln.Tommy, very much a gentle giant, had the same effect on the late Arthur Flay when he visited, daughter Shannon saying “it was love at first sight.’’
Sadly Flay died before Tommy won his first race last month but Shannon’s sister Brenda, also a first-time owner, has since taken up his share.
“This is the first time I’ve been to the races for five years but I remember dad bringing us here when I was seven or eight,’’ Brenda said.
Shannon was again wearing her dad’s wedding ring last night for good luck.
But Tommy had it covered. And even though he started over-racing a round from home for driver Andre Poutama after pacemaker The Empress posted a leisurely 32 second quarter, he was still going strongly 400 metres from home.
Driver Andre Poutama gets the best out of Tommy Lincoln, outer, as he staves off The Empress. PHOTO: Peter Rubery/Race Images.His big, gangly legs got a bit uncoordinated on the home bend however, once balanced, he forged to the front 250 metres out and looked the winner.
But he still had some work to do as The Empress fought back strongly to close the margin to a head at the line.
Tommy Lincoln clocked a respectable 2:43.2 for the mobile 2200 metres, one tenth of a second faster than two-year-old stablemate Copy That posted in winning later in the night.
It all augurs well for Tommy’s future as a three-year-old, everything he’s done so far just a bonus for a slow developing horse who trainer Ray Green once described as “big and gormless.’’
Judging by the progress his older siblings Lincoln’s Girl (6 wins) and Lincoln Road (14 wins) have made for Queensland trainer Al Barnes, he has plenty more in store.
Fellow owners Ray Menzies and Dennis Ebert might have missed the fun last night but you can bet they’ll try to be there next time when Tommy shoots for a hat-trick.
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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.
