Tommy Lincoln is hard on the gate as they score up for last week’s Queensland Cup.
Tommy top three chance on Saturday so long as they run along and he gets a lung full of air
By Barry Lichter • 18 November 2022
Trainer Mark Dux is expecting a better effort from Tommy Lincoln when he lines up over his preferred mile at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Lincoln Farms’ five-year-old tailed the field home in last Saturday night’s Queensland Cup, which saw the 2138 metres run in a hectic 1:52.9 mile rate.
That’s the same time as they clocked when Tommy ran a fine second to Blacksadance the previous week over only 1660 metres.
But Dux suspects it was more than just the extra trip which found Tommy out.
“I think when Mathew grabbed him early he might have half cut his air off because I didn’t think he was travelling any good and he was blowing pretty hard after the race.
“That’s always been a bit of an issue with him. You’ve got to let him do his thing. It doesn’t take much with him, it’s a fine line.”
While Tommy Lincoln ended up getting a sweet one-one trail, he had to come three wide when Blacksadance surprisingly faded before the turn, then he had nothing left in the run home.
Dux believes, with an ounce of luck, Tommy can run top three on Saturday night when he takes on five horses who all beat him home last week.
“He won’t be able to cross them from three - Star Galleria is pretty good off the gate and I think Big Wheels will lead and be the one to beat.
“Hopefully we can come across behind them and run three fence, which isn’t a bad spot for him.
“The week before when he finished second he sat three fence and ran past Mach Da Vinci, who won last week.”
Dux doesn’t see much pressure in the race, however, and says if they walk and only get going at the 400, Tommy will struggle to pick them up.
“Hopefully they’ll roll down the back, which will open it up a little bit, and put us in the race.
“There’s not a huge gap between these horses and it comes down to the draws and which one gets a better trip.”
Tommy Lincoln races at 1am Sunday morning NZ time at Albion Park .
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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.
