Tommy’s chance to show what he’s got against strong opposition at Redcliffe on Saturday
Trainer Mark Dux expects Tommy Lincoln to be right in the fight despite tackling a strong line-up at Redcliffe on Saturday night.
Dux takes Lincoln Farms’ tough campaigner back to the tight north-east Brisbane circuit after his sterling first-up fourth last week.
“I was over the moon with his run last week,” Dux said.
“He ran a 27.52 last quarter (second fastest) and was four wide all the way round the bend. That made it very hard for him to run them down.”
This week Tommy moves from the second row to be perfectly slotted at two on the gate for driver Angus Garrard.
“I think he’ll probably lead from there and if he gets it a little bit steady at some stage he’ll be hard to beat.”
Dux says he expects pole runner Ohoka Chopper to hand up, just like he did to hotpot Deus Ex last week.
“He may have to do a bit to hold the lead, he could cop a bit of pressure from Will The Wizard and Ideal World, who both have gate speed, but I don’t think they’ll cross him.
“As long he doesn’t get absolutely smashed in the lead there’s no reason why he can’t win.
“He can handle a bit of pressure but too much and it might leave him vulnerable the last bit.”
With Deus Ex buried on the inside of the second row on Saturday night, L L Cool J also on the second line and Speech Is Silver drawn the outside of the arm, Tommy Lincoln would have his chance to show what he’s got.
“It’s a strong field but he’s up to the task.”
Stablemate Captain Nemo (race 2) steps up in grade on the company he beat last week and Dux finds the race quite tricky to read.
“There looks to be a lot of pressure in the race and I’m not sure where he’s going to be. We may well end up having to go back and poke along.
“Pacific Drums can really run the gate and if they light him up it could really be on for the first furlong. The harder they go, the better it will suit us. I hope they go like lunatics.”
Dux says he’s not too worried where Nemo lands - from three he could put himself on the pace so long as it’s not too hectic
“It will all come down to tempo.”
Where Nemo didn’t want to be was back on a slow speed.
“These horses regularly run time for their last sectionals so if you’re back and wide, especially at Redcliffe, you’re no hope.
“It will just come down to luck in the running.
“I’m really happy with both horses - they’ve done well during the week.”
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 9: Kevin Kline
9.55pm
“When Maurice asked him to go at the top of the straight at Cambridge he got lost and didn’t quite know what to do. He wound up well in the end but just left it a little late. He’ll learn from that and should go well again.”
Race 10: Debbie Lincoln
10.22pm
“She has ability but she’s a work in progress. She’s fast but she needs to harness it. She gets a little claustrophobic when they come around her so the mission on Friday will be to get round without her doing anything stupid. She’s a much stronger individual now than when she started off in April.”