Tommy Lincoln, wearing spreaders, highballs in front at the Pukekohe workouts last Saturday.
Tommy’s fit now and he’s drawn to lead at Auckland on Friday night so look out!
By Barry Lichter • 14 November 2019
Drawn to lead and fitter for two runs back, Tommy Lincoln is the one to beat in the sixth race at Auckland on Friday night.
With the early scratching of pole runner Destined For Heaven, Tommy Lincoln starts from three, with only stablemate Hampton Banner and Hunter Bromac inside him.
And given the gate speed he has shown in the past, driver Andre Poutama should have no trouble taking the front, from where he will be extremely hard to get past.
Trainer Ray Green says the big son of American Ideal looks very fit now and showed in his last run at Auckland that he was in for a good season.
After trailing early, then being three back, driver David Butcher made a lightning move to wrest the lead at the 1500. And he succumbed only late to Barry Purdon’s Sole Ambition who enjoyed a perfect trail and sprint lane run at him, clocking a spectacular 2:39.7 for the 2200 metres.
Tommy, only a neck away at the line, did extremely well to run a mile rate of 1:56.8 given it was only his second run back from a spell.
But the three-year-old showed he had progressed further when leading all the way for Poutama at the Pukekohe workouts last Saturday, whipping home in 26.7.
Tommy Lincoln wore spreaders at Pukekohe and Green hopes they will provide the key at Auckland on Friday, helping him stay off his knee.
“He’s looking pretty fit and they’ll have a job to get past him on Friday - he’ll keep running.”
Hampton Banner … won easily but beat nothing at Cambridge. PHOTO: Chanelle Lawson.Friday’s rating 53 to 58 event will be a big test, however, for Hampton Banner.
He looked good winning his first race at Cambridge last start but as Green points out, he beat a poor lot.
“We’re throwing him in the deep end here but we have to find out what he can do.”
Hampton Banner led all the way at Cambridge and clocked a sedate mile rate of 2:00.4 for the 2200 metres but will have to go many seconds faster this time.
Double Or Nothing, Green’s third runner in the race, has the disadvantage of starting from three on the second row in what looks a useful field.
But Green says he deserves consideration on his recent efforts.
Last time at Cambridge he had to work had early from a wide draw and, despite siting parked, closed hard at the finish to be beaten only three-quarters of a length by pacemaker Simon in a 1:55.9 mile rate for the 1700 metres.
Green says you can forget his previous start, in Line Up’s Sires’ Stakes heat at Auckland, when he was “left out to dry” three wide with no cover in a 1:54 mile.
“You can’t condemn him on that run - it was the first time he hadn’t been in the money in his life.”
With Zachary Butcher opting to drive Barry Purdon’s filly Little Miss Perfect, the drive goes to James Stormont.
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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.
