Easier field, tougher draw but our Tommy’s going well enough to be right in it again
By Barry Lichter • 20 August 2021
Tommy Lincoln drops into a much easier race at Albion Park on Saturday night but the flip side is he will have to overcome a very tough draw.
When Tommy took on the top free-for-all horses last week, and was a shade unlucky in running only sixth, he started from gate three and enjoyed a sweet trip in the running.
But in the opening race this week, as one of the best performed horses in a band four event, he is landed with the worst draw on the outside of the front line.
And with his main opposition Mach Da Vinci stranded three on the second row, trainer Mark Dux says it will come down to which of the pair gets the best run.
“It’s a tough draw all right but he’s still a top two chance. It will all depend on what happens in the running.”
Tommy Lincoln’s bid to lead last week was thwarted by pole runner Blacksadance who kicked up inside him on a sizzling 26.8 first quarter. He ended up with a one-one trail when Crunch Time looped the field to sit parked at the 700m.
But when driver Shane Graham tried to push out turning for home he was held in when first Crunch Time rolled out in front of him then Colt Thirty One came alongside.
“He did run up on to the back of (runner-up) Crunch Time and, while he wasn’t bolting, the way he hit the line he’d have finished closer if he’d been outside that horse,” Dux said.
As it was, with nowhere to go, Tommy Lincoln finished just 5.4 metres from the all-the-way winner Blacksadance who clocked a swift mile rate of 1:51.8 for the 1660 metres.
“And Shane said if he’d drawn inside Blacksadance he’d have won.”
On Saturday night, top junior Angus Garrard is back at the helm and Dux says he won’t be able to simply blast forward over the 2138 metres.
“There are a couple inside him who have good gate speed and one who will certainly park us.
“But he’s going as well as anything in the race and even if he has to sit parked he’ll be right in it again.”
Tommy Lincoln has racked up four wins and a third in just seven starts in Queensland for Lincoln Farms’ owners John and Lynne Street and their partners Ian Middleton, Shannon and Brenda Flay, Ian, Kathy and Daniel Parkinson, Debbie Sparks, Ray Menzies and Denis Ebert.
Tommy Lincoln races at 7.37pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
A picture of Bliss but poor Harry’s arms were nearly pulled out of their sockets
Ultra-consistent Kevin Kline sold to the United States: Why Ray’s sorry to lose him
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
