Captain Nemo, outer, was terrific in winning last start but he has a nightmare draw this week.
Tommy right in it from four on Friday but last-start winner Nemo has a nightmare draw
By Barry Lichter • 22 December 2022
If things go to plan, Tommy Lincoln can run top four for Lincoln Farms at Albion Park on Friday, says trainer Mark Dux.
But a horror outside draw has taken brave last-start winner Captain Nemo right out of contention in his event.
Tommy Lincoln starts from four on the gate in the final race, giving him the chance to cross to the lead with three lesser lights drawn inside him.
That’s a stark contrast from his last start two weeks ago when, from the outside of the gate in the Lord Mayors Cup, he was always out the back.
Despite beating only one home, Tommy, a $146 outsider, was clocked over his last 800 metres in a slick 54.33, and 400 in 26.97, his sectionals again right up with the money-winners.
Mach Da Vinci ran 53.92 and 26.55, no better than Tommy’s effort given he travelled 14 metres more in the running.
“He (Mathew Neilson) let Tommy coast up the straight too, didn’t knock him around.
“He’s running consistently fast sectionals. In these races it’s just where you land and how the race is run. Not many can come from the back.
“This week we’ve got to roll the dice - go forward and hopefully put him on the front end.”
Dux says the speed Tommy’s been showing at the start gives him a good chance of crossing Escalera, drawn immediately inside him.
“We just don’t want to fire him up too much and run the risk of him cutting his air off again.
“It will all depend on how much work we have to do at the start. If we can get the lead easily enough he’ll be more than competitive. I could see him being right there.
“Uncle Shank and Turn It Up are the two to beat over a mile but the only one I’d like to hand to is Uncle Shank. We don’t need to end up three back.”
Dux says his daughter Madi, home from Leeton in New South Wales for Christmas, will have no option but to drive Captain Nemo cold in the seventh race and hope he can run home.
“It’s a nightmare of a draw and a tough field. I’d have preferred the back row to seven.
“He’s been wanting to run the gate but she’ll have to try to get him back and take short cuts. He went terriffic (to win) the other day but you’d gut him trying to go forward in this field unless a lot of them dragged back hard.”
Captain Nemo races at 6.50pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday.
Tommy Lincoln races at 8.25pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday.
More news in Harness
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Ray: Preferential draw for top fillies makes it tough for everyone else in Golden Gait series
Patient owners hoping high-priced Colonel can salute at Cambridge on Thursday night
Friday’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup all about the standing start manners of Aussie raider
Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”
