Tommy’s quick but those McMullens like to lead at Albion Park and take no prisoners

Tommy Lincoln has not one, but two obstacles in his way at Albion Park on Saturday night - both with the surname McMullen.

The way Tommy Lincoln raced last Saturday, when he paced a mighty 54.71 three wide solo for his last 800 metres, trainer Mark Dux said he only needed a draw to be counting the cash this week.

But while Lincoln Farms’ speedster landed gate four, he has two horses inside him with early toe, Saucy Dreams in one and It Aint The Money in two and, worse, they will be driven by two renowned front-runners, brother and sister Pete and Narissa McMullen.

“It will be a bit tricky because if they find the lead they like to keep it,” says Dux. “And they’re not the best drivers to sit outside, they like to run time.

“Whether we can cross them or not it’s hard to say, but probably we can’t.”

Mark Dux … “he’ll go well no matter where he lands.”Dux says it’s not a scenario where he can be giving any driving instructions to Tommy’s pilot, leading junior Angus Garrard.

“Tommy’s quick but it will come down to how the one and two come out.”

The problem for Garrard is that if he lights up Tommy too much, and he gets trapped outside the leader, he’ll pull too hard.

“It might be best if he got a trail like last week. If he can slot in behind them and doesn’t have to spend too much early, he’ll go better.”

Even if Garrard makes his run 600 metres out, instead of 800 out, Dux believes the horse will go close.

“The way he went the other night I think he’ll go well no matter where he lands.”

Tommy Lincoln, who has led in each of his three wins since arriving in Queensland, drew too wide on the gate last week to repeat that tactic and was forced to race first in the one-one then three back in the running line.

His effort to pace the fastest last half, even quicker than the first two home, Crunch Time and Mach Da Vinci, despite doing it three wide, was a real highlight of the race, as was his gameness to keep closing just 8 metres from the winner over the longer 2138 metres.

Dux says Tommy is tough enough to do some work in the running back to 1660 metres this week but “it’s just a matter of how quick they go.

“If they run their first half in 56, and we’re outside them we’re in trouble but, if they don’t go stupid, he’ll be thereabouts.”

Tommy Lincoln clocked a mile rate of 1:52.7 in winning two starts back. Saucy Dreams, by comparison, ran 1:52.8 in June and 1:51.4 in May, leading both times.

If it’s not Tommy’s turn on Saturday night, Dux says another win is very close.

“I’m really happy with him and we can’t keep drawing outside the fast ones all the time.”

Northview Hustler scores in a trial at Albion Park on Tuesday.

The Hustler’s back

Two races later Lincoln Farms’ former Queensland flag bearer Northview Hustler makes his comeback after five months away from the track.

Barnes now races the seven-year-old himself, with two of the Hustler’s grestest fans Carl Officer and Stu Cappie the only two of his former owners who opted to stay in the horse after he was sold.

Lincoln Farms agreed to Barnes buying the Hustler in March when his ongoing niggles got the better of him and he became too much of a risky project.

“So far, so good,” says Barnes. “The extended break has helped him and he’s been on the same recovery programme as last time.

“He looks good - he’s a touch bigger than I’ve had him previously - but, while his best days are realistically behind him, I think managed properly he can still be a good bread and butter horse.”

Barnes trialled the Hustler at Albion Park on Tuesday and was happy to drive him to a win, albeit in slow time.

“It was a nice easy trial for him, I didn’t want to go too quickly, and while he switched off a little at the finish I didn’t have a hood on him.”

Northview Hustler’s biggest fan Carl Officer had his fave’s name tattooed on his arm.The Hustler paced the 1660 metres in a pedestrian mile rate of 1:58.3, beating 10-race winner Rock Fisherman and the well performed Governor Jujon, winner of 17 of his 24 starts.

Barnes has no illusions about beating local champ Colt Thirty One or Alta Orlando on Saturday night but fancies the Hustler can earn a small cheque.

“He’s not forward enough to beat the favourites but I could see him getting a cushy trip three back on the markers.”

Officer says his expectations are nil but he still thinks there’s a race or two left in the horse.

“Stu and I love Hustler too much not to keep racing him.”

Officer’s allegiance to the horse could never be questioned after he had Northview Hustler tattooed on his arm.

Tommy Lincoln races at 8.14pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.