Atta boy Tommy! Ants really impressed by tonight’s tough all-the-way win in 1:52.7
By Barry Lichter • 24 July 2021
The way Tommy Lincoln felt at Albion Park tonight, top driver Anthony Butt said he knew he’d take pegging back.
And Butt was proven right when arguably Lincoln Farms’ most popular pacer set the pace again and staved off home stretch challenges inside and out to claim his third win from four starts in Brisbane.
“He felt really good tonight, very sharp,” Butt said. “He’s got better with every run, like all the team.”
Butt said even though he turned for home barely a length in front of favourite Crunch Time and trailer Fairy Tinkabell, he was actually more confident than when the horse won his previous start.
Anthony Butt brings Tommy Lincoln back after his third win at Albion Park.“His manners were really good. He settled really well in front and got into a nice rhythm.
“I knew when they came at him he’d have a kick and take a bit of getting past. He had nice horses all around him, in the chair and in the trail, so he did well to hold them off.”
At the post Tommny Lincoln had a neck to spare over Fairy Tinkabell, with a head to Crunch Time, clocking the very good mile rate of 1:52.7 for the 1660 metres.
“That’s a good time round here, they don’t go much faster than that,” Butt said.
Tommy Lincoln reeled off quarters of 27.7, 29.8, 28 and 27.4, Butt impressed again by the horse’s early speed.
“With that gate speed of his he should do really well over here, especially now the carnival has finished and all the inter-state horses will go home.”
Tommy Lincoln staves off Fairy Tinkabell, inner, and Crunch Time.Tommy Lincoln will continue to race from the stable of Mark Dux, who has hosted the Lincoln Farms team at the winter carnival.
Tonight’s win was the 11th of his 33 start career, giving him an impressive winning strike rate of 33.3%.
The A$11,655 winner’s purse took his Brisbane bankroll to A$24,233, winning three of his four starts.
That, added to the $97,515 he earned in New Zealand, has been a terrific return for Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street and their partners in the horse, Ian Middleton, Shannon and Brenda Flay, Ian, Kathy and Daniel Parkinson, Debbie Sparks, Ray Menzies and Denis Ebert.
The American Ideal - Tania Tandias four-year-old cost just $10,000 as a weanling.
More news in Harness
Prince Lincoln finally shows what he’s made of - and, wow, was that a blazing demolition!
Hey Wendy and Amy, go easy of Fergs as he’s doing a sterling job taming Lincoln Linda
Third time lucky for Wave’s little bro Omaha Lincoln who finally debuts at Auckland
Copy N Paste a ‘tradesman’ but look for bold debut run at Cambridge on Thursday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 4: Lincoln Linda
6.38pm
“I’m not sure where she’s at. It’s a big drop in class - there’s not much in there - but I don’t think she’ll morph into a star. She was hitting the sulky wheels last time and over-racing but that won’t happen again.”
Race 6: Lincoln Maree
7.36pm
“She paced roughly last time but we’ve done a bit of work on her since so she should be happier this time. It depends on the trip she gets (from four) but she’ll go an honest race. She’s no superstar, but she doesn’t miss many cheques.”
Race 8: Copy N Paste
8.45pm
“He’s dour and tradesman-like but he’s getting there. It’s his first time off the place, and the trip will improve him, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him competitive in what is a very weak field. Sometimes you don’t know what the Bettors Delights have got until they front up at the races but he trialled well and beat a couple who are against him here.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Prince Lincoln
4.53pm
“He actually tried last time. He’s a nice horse but can change his mind quickly. Full blinds woke him up last time so we’ll see if he responds to them again this time.”
Race 3: Omaha Lincoln
5.46pm
“I think he’ll go a good race but it’s his first time at Alexandra Park so I don’t want to talk him up too much. He’s got enough ability to win a race like this, whether he’s ready to do it, we’ll find out. He can get a bit keen at times but I think he’s a chance if he does everything right.”
Race 5: Spiritual Bliss
6.54pm
“It was another great run last time after leading and she’s a good, tough mare who will go another good race. What trip she gets will determine where she finishes. From five, I’m picking she might go back this time but I’ll leave that up to the driver (Harrison Orange).”
Race 6: Sharpe Stride
7.24pm
“He’s a nice trotter, a big strong colt. He can get a bit hot but there’s nothing wrong with how he goes. He’s certainly not good enough to deal with these but he’s there for a run around.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
8.57pm
“He’s racing in career-best form and they were struggling for runners so I put him in. He gets a starting fee of $1750 so we won’t go home empty-handed. I’m really happy with him, he’s handling right-handed racing better these days. But he’s racing the bear cats so I’m not suggesting for a second he’ll give them a fright.”
Race 10: Colonel Lincoln
9.25pm
“I thought he went super last time. It was a vast improvement on the previous two starts and you’ve got to remember he was out for a long time. He’s coming to it now and improving all the time. I couldn’t label him but I’d be surprised if he’s not in the first three or four. He’s trained on well and gets a front row draw.”
Race 10: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.25pm
“He was given too much to do last time - up to park at the bell - and you can’t drive the ears off them every time. With a more conservative trip he’d be right in it.”
